Cutless housing removal

[Topcat47]

,My cutless bearing has to be machined to fit the housing and is fixed by a grub screw as well as an interference "fit". You might find yours is similar once you get it off. Don't try to drive the old one until the grub screw has been removed or you're sure one has not been used.

Also, Mine is threaded onto the stern tube, so the housing has to be unscrewed. To do this I need to remove the studs as well.

The studs were screwed into threads cut into the GRP. The threads stripped when I removed the original studs. I used 6mm threaded Brass inserts from Axminster Tools to replace them. I had to drill out the original holes to 8mm and the inserts had a coarse thread on the outside (I cannot remember the technical term for them) I used a slow setting epoxy to fix them once inserted. Still OK after 10+ Years.... I use Teflon grease on the stud threads whenever I have to "do" the cutless bearing and fit seems to last and function as a barrier to salt water - the inserts seem as good as new.

 

[MM5AHO]

Another question while on this topic...


How much shaft wear is too much? There detectable wear on the shaft where the cutless bearing fits. I'll measure it accurately on Monday (micrometer), but how much wear demands a new shaft? I reckon I could make a new shaft, but getting the old one out will be the issue. I think that demands moving the engine, but there might be enough room for sideways movement through the stern tube seeing the cutless bearing and gland housing will be off? (The shaft hits the rudder skeg)

 

[Tranona]

Once you have the housing off you will have a fair amount of lateral movement assuming there is no fixed bearing at the inner end of the tube.

 

[fisherman]

I removed my cutless without moving the bearing holder. Shaft out, then a piece of studding which has a 12mm thick washer same outside diameter as the cutless, the washer was machined with flats and a diagonal hole so it would 'tip' to enter the cutless, then pull flat against the inside end. Piece of tube over the outside end with a bar across it, studding out through, wind the thing out. Have to say my cutless when fitted years before had been badly machined (by me) and not polished, so it had to be dragged every mm. Polish the new one and coat with copperslip which discourages marine growth.
I also had the cutless machined with a thread on the outside end and a collar screwed on, with two screw holes to drive it off in future.

 

[scottie]

What you are describing is a Stuart Turner bearing as discussed above.

However as the Op's photo clearly shows it is not one of those but a conventional cutless bearing.

Agreed I believe that the hexagonal centre is distinctive to the Stuart bearing along with lack of outer shell
A long time could be wasted looking for a pinching screw