Removing prop shaft

[Miker]

I am replacing the shaft seal and cutless bearing on a Beneteau with a Volvo 2010 diesel engine. I've undone the bolts and grub screw on the collar holding the shaft and now have to prise open the jaws to release the shaft. I can think of two possible methods. I could tighten up the grub screw to pull the collar away from the shaft and then insert a wedge into the slot and release the grub screw. Or I could put a piece of thin metal into the slot in the collar and tighten a bolt against it.
What is the recommended method, please?

 

[srp]

Halyard recommend the second method for their Aquadrive couplings, and having done it I can confirm that it works well. You only have to tweak the bolt up a little to free the collar off the shaft.

 

[vyv_cox]

Pull the two flanges apart. Insert a large nut or other piece of metal, of smaller diameter than the shaft, between the end of the shaft and the gearbox drive flange. Put two longer bolts diametrically opposite each other through the flange bolt holes and tighten nuts down them, to pull the flange off the shaft. If the flange coller is not very tightly attached around the shaft you may get away with an easier tightening method, such as a mole wrench, G-cramp or similar.

 

[MoodySabre]

I took my coupling off last week and the shaft slid out with very little effort. I had read horror stories on the MOA website and was much relieved. Somebody there suggest a cold chisel held flat to shaft and in the end of the slot and a whack on the end would open/dislodge the grip of the coupling. Somebody had to saw theirs off and buy a new shaft and coupling /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif.

 

[Miker]

Thanks folk. I will try method two for a start. I contemplated hammering in a chisel but thought better of it!

 

[Heckler]

i undid the clamp bolts, unscrewed the locating grub screw and gently tapped my favourite screwdriver into the gap and the coupling slid off nicely!
stu

 

[Heckler]

vyv
they have a split which is tightened up with clamp bolts, no need to draw off, they almost fall off when the split is eased open.
stu

 

[vyv_cox]

Hi Stu
Perhaps Beneteau make theirs more accurately than some others! I have undone a few using the screwdriver in the slot method but I've had some that took a great deal more effort. My Halyard couplings are a very tight fit. I thought it wouldn't do any harm to write the correct method for the tough ones.
Vyv

 

[Miker]

Well, I tried screwing onto a thin piece of steel in the slot but all that happened was that the bolt punched a hole in the metal which is now stuck in the slot, and the first couple of turns on the bolt thread are worn away. If the rain keeps away tomorrow, I will try Vyv's method.