Cutlass bearing replacement

Houleaux

Houleaux

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Joined
29 Nov 2009
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342
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Solent
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The cutlass bearing on my Westerly Storm needs replacing again. It's a fairly standard arrangement with a P bracket.

The last time it was done the engineer removed the propshaft to do it. This required removal of the rudder, which meant the boat had to be lifted from its cradle to provide the necessary clearance - all of which added to the cost.

I've read on this forum of tools that are commercially available, or which have been fabricated by DIY engineers, to remove and replace cutlass bearings with the propshaft in place. There's also a YouTube video showing one being used.

The commercial tools are costly to buy and I don't have the necessary equipment/skill to make one myself.

My question is, therefore, can anyone recommend an engineer in the Solent area who uses such a tool to replace these bearings?

Thanks.
 
Poey50 said:
I've got one of these ...

http://www.pbo.co.uk/practical-projects/diy-cutless-bearing-extractor-26496

Paul at FFsystems did the tricky cutting on materials I supplied (bought off eBay). Contactable here ... http://ffsystems.co.uk
Click to expand...

Thanks Poey50. Very helpful.

I see that ffsystems has pictured a prop puller and parts for removing a cutlass bearing on his Project page here: http://ffsystems.co.uk/prop_puller.html

I've sent a message via his Contact page to see what the approximate cost might be to make these for me (I'd need both).

If anyone has had this job done for them by an engineer using this type of tool, I'm still interested in recommendations though!
 
George Roxborough in Hamble did ours three years ago, without removing the shaft.
Email:
g.roxborough at bt internet dot com
 
Houleaux said:
Thanks Poey50. Very helpful.

I see that ffsystems has pictured a prop puller and parts for removing a cutlass bearing on his Project page here: http://ffsystems.co.uk/prop_puller.html

I've sent a message via his Contact page to see what the approximate cost might be to make these for me (I'd need both).

If anyone has had this job done for them by an engineer using this type of tool, I'm still interested in recommendations though!
Click to expand...

Houleaux, I have responded with some info, details required, and ball park figures

I have also added a couple of links to the website to show how the puller and the bearing remover work
 
Houleaux said:
I see that ffsystems has pictured a prop puller and parts for removing a cutlass bearing on his Project page here: http://ffsystems.co.uk/prop_puller.html

I've sent a message via his Contact page to see what the approximate cost might be to make these for me (I'd need both).
Click to expand...

You probably know this but just in case ... the prop puller is specific for a two blade folding Gori prop.
 
DinghyMan said:
Houleaux, I have responded with some info, details required, and ball park figures

I have also added a couple of links to the website to show how the puller and the bearing remover work
Click to expand...

Thanks DinghyMan. I've got your email, am very interested and will provide the info ASAP.

Poey50 - Thanks for pointing out that the puller pictured was for a Gori prop. The hub appears to be very similar to that of my Varifold and so, once I've supplied the required dimensions, Paul expects to be able to custom make one for that too.
 
Houleaux said:
Poey50 - Thanks for pointing out that the puller pictured was for a Gori prop. The hub appears to be very similar to that of my Varifold and so, once I've supplied the required dimensions, Paul expects to be able to custom make one for that too.
Click to expand...

Good to know.
 
TQA said:
Possibly failing to meet the criterion 'half way decent' then.
Click to expand...

:) Very possibly!

I'd be interested to hear if other yards do this work with pullers. I decided to get my own cutlass bearing puller made after hearing of a £300 charge for a professional job on this which involved a fair amount of whacking.
 
DinghyMan said:
Houleaux, I have responded with some info, details required, and ball park figures

I have also added a couple of links to the website to show how the puller and the bearing remover work
Click to expand...

Just thought I'd post a quick update.

DinghyMan supplied some beautifully made tools to remove my Varifold prop and replace my cutlass bearing with the shaft in situ. I have finally got around to doing the job and have posted some photos below that show the tools in use.

First the prop puller. It made removing the prop an absolute doddle! The puller is held in place by the pins that would normally secure the folding blades of the prop:

P1110092a.jpgP1110094a.jpg

Next the cutlass bearing remover. The bearing proved to be remarkably stubborn, but the tool proved well up to the job.

P1110108a.jpgP1110111a.jpg

Finally, though I've yet to get a replacement bearing, the photos below show how the tool can be used to press it into the P bracket when I do:

P1110114a.jpgP1110115a.jpg

I have no connection with DinghyMan - Paul of ffsystems (see: www.ffsystems.co.uk) - other than as a very satisfied customer. If you need similar tools made and don't have the facilities or skill to make them yourself, I recommend you get in touch with him.
 
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