Cutlass bearing

Acomposite bearing is usually glued in with epoxy - no heed for grub screws. To remove if it ever needs replacing you heat it up to soften the epoxy.
 
I wonder if maybe that is how its currently held. (if its the remaining shell i am seeing)
thanks everyone for the pointers. If I can find a local engineer to have a look I will do that too.
 
Done mine in the summer. Rubber part had worn to such a degree there were no grooves left and it just fell out when I took the prop off. Was really difficult to discern whether there was more to come out of the sterntube. Eventually I started sawing with a hacksaw blade, actually quite easy, the metal was soft brass. Couple of taps from inside and the remainder of the cutless bearing appeared and was easily withdrawn.
 
Ardenfour said:
Done mine in the summer. Rubber part had worn to such a degree there were no grooves left and it just fell out when I took the prop off. Was really difficult to discern whether there was more to come out of the sterntube. Eventually I started sawing with a hacksaw blade, actually quite easy, the metal was soft brass. Couple of taps from inside and the remainder of the cutless bearing appeared and was easily withdrawn.
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If you can feel a ridge 4 or 5 inches in from the prop end it's probably the bearing outer shell.
 
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Lightwave395 said:
Just changing my cutlass bearing, is there any benefit or reason why I should or should not change from brass to composite ? Looking at Exalto and Norris
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Composite shells expand in water, so a clearance is built in to allow for it. There will be a small 'slop' when initially fitted that should disappear after launching.

However, my experience was that the clearance was inadequate and the bearing became very tight on the shaft. I had to replace with a brass one after one season.
 
I renewed my uniquely sized cutlass last year. None of the off-the-shelf sizes would fit, so, after much excellent forum advice, I ordered a bespoke maritex one from these chaps H4 group home page
It's been excellent so far.
One cock up I made was measuring my shaft at the cutlass bearing. It appeared to be exactly 2.5mm however this was due to wearing from the cutlass bearing... my shaft is actually 1". Fortunately, being maritex, I was able to sand down the inside of my new cutlass and squeeze it over the un-worn part of the shaft into the right spot.
Good luck!
 
Thanks everyone for contributing. Turns out it was the outer shell of a cutless bearing that was left and in fact that is what I was cutting.
After heating stern tube a little I could see epoxy burn off and a ring develop. A couple of knocks inward and I could see the separation.
I couldn't get access at engine end to knock it out. Cutting it wasn't easy so i eventually used bearing puller/slide hammer. Stubborn but worked well with some heat.
 
Tranona said:
Standard cutless for 1" shafts (double check it is not 25mm!) have outer shells of 1 1/4", 1 3/8" or 1 1/2" all 4" long so I don't think your tube had a cutless. Best to talk to h4marine.com about having a composite bearing made exactly to fit your tube and shaft.
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My Jaguar / Catalina 27 has a 1" shaft with 1⅞" outer sleeve, 3½" long. Definitely a cutlass bearing, don't think there is particularly a rule or standard on these.
 
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