CUTLASS or CUTLESS BEARING ???

[SHUG]

I see the propshaft bearing variously described as a Cutless Bearing or a Cutlass Bearing.
Which is correct and where did the name originate?

 

[Leighb]

I don't know the origin, but I have always understood it to be Cutless, a Cutlass is a short naval sword.

 

[Tranona]

Cutless is the trade name of the original fluted water lubricated rubber bearing. It is a registered trademark of Johnson. Bit like Hoover, it has become the generic name for that type of water lubricated bearing, although not all are the same construction or material.

Really does not matter which spelling you use, people who understand the product will know what you mean.

 

[KenMcCulloch]

Cutless.

i understand the name refers to the cleverly designed property of these bearings which allows and particles in the water to flow through the gaps rather than cutting the rubber bearing surface. Thus, cut-less (cutless) bearing.

 

[ithet]

I see the propshaft bearing variously described as a Cutless Bearing or a Cutlass Bearing.
Which is correct and where did the name originate?

Seems to have both names used but really it is CUTLESS. The design was so named because of the grooves cut into the wall which let out the grit etc. so that it CUTS LESS! Nothing to do with pirates or swords!

 

[ithet]

Seems to have both names used but really it is CUTLESS. The design was so named because of the grooves cut into the wall which let out the grit etc. so that it CUTS LESS! Nothing to do with pirates or swords!

Edit - Tannie and Ken got there first!!!

 

[SHUG]

TRANONA is on the ball again!
It seems that this type of bearing originated in USA and was manufactured in the 1960's by a company called Johnson Cutless which is still a registered trade name.The bearings seem to be marketed by DURAMAX who sell them as "Johnson Duramax Cutless Bearings". In the USA they are still referred to by the full title but we seem to have resorted to the shorter "Cutless Bearing".
Nevertheless , if you Google "cutlass bearing" you get lots of "cutless bearings" so its not a crisis.
My curiosity has been satisfied......back to sleep!!

 

[Neil_Y]

I see the propshaft bearing variously described as a Cutless Bearing or a Cutlass Bearing.
Which is correct and where did the name originate?

It's the name for some old technology in bearing materials, they are now known as water lubricated shaft bearings, as this clearly describes what they do.

 

[SHUG]

It's the name for some old technology in bearing materials, they are now known as water lubricated shaft bearings, as this clearly describes what they do.

I was interested to visit your web site and to see how new materials are being used for water lubricated prop shaft bearings. This seems to be directed more at the commercial rather than the recreational market at the moment.

 

[pappaecho]

It appears that the original patent for the cutless bearing was in WW2

 

[Neil_Y]

It's true most of our bearings go to commercial craft and these have proved that the new materials last three or four times longer than rubber (Plymouth Pilot boat is one example)

However we have supplied many 1" shaft bearings as white metal or rubber replacements.

I like commercial buyers though, as they look at overall long term costs and performance rather than what is the cheapest, and they tend to buy bearings for fleets of vessels rather than one offs.

It's getting more common though for shafts down to 2" to move away from rubber or at least consider alternatives.

 

[vyv_cox]

The design was so named because of the grooves cut into the wall !

But why would that be called cutless? I believe they were called 'cutless' because they were moulded in the finished size, rather than being cut from a larger tube, as earlier ones were. This helped the longevity of the bearing, in that the absence of cuts was also an absence of stress raisers, from which cracks could grow. The same technology and thinking applies to pump impellers.

 

[theoldsalt]

I remember years ago the term "Dunlop Bearing" being used. Is this a branded cutless or something completely different ?

 

[nigelmercier]

I see the propshaft bearing variously described as a Cutless Bearing or a Cutlass Bearing...

From Wikipedia:

The tradename "Cutless" is used for these rubber bearings and this name has also, along with its mis-spelling 'Cutlass', become a generic term for them.

See here for full article.