Replaced Cutless bearings today

[Lozzer]

Engineer arrived this morning armed with two shiny new cutless bearings.

Props were a little difficult to remove but heating them and a few whacks with a persuader had them both slide of.

Engineers hydraulic contraption attached to shaft gently eases the bearings out to show badly worn bearings.

New bearings inserted props on and jobs done in less than 5 hours...

Given someone had quoted me 145 hours I think the guy I chose was a genius.

Can't wait to get boat back in water to feel how smooth she runs now.

Some pics of the event.

 

[kashurst]

Quality job - its amazing what some so called marine engineers can come up with. Sounds like you got lucky getting the props off, sometimes they can be a swine. Can you publish the name/company who did the work - sounds like man to know for the future

 

[Lozzer]

The job was organised by Princess in Puerto Banus...

Juan is the Caterpillar agent who is happy to do other jobs as well. He is based in Marbella Spain.

Very impressed with what he has done. Less impressed withe the cutless bearings lasting under three years... But then I guess the 12,000 miles we have covered must have some wear and tear..

 

[Hurricane]

Wow
That was good
I assume that the Princess guy is Nick
If so, his name and Juan will now go down in my little book if/when ever I should need the same job done.
Might even be worth a cruise to Banus to get it done.

I've got my annual lift booked for the end of next week - here's hoping that job isn't necessary just yet.

 

[pan]

We have just had our cutlass bearings replaced, ss manhattan 50, ours did not sit all the way through the P bracket, so couldn't be knocked through. Pig of a job, but Total Marine mallorca managed to do the pair in about 3 hours! Had to cut/split the bearing at the open end then work them out, brilliant job, I would have really struggled working out how to remove them, as there was no lip. What was the hydraulic contraption?

 

[jfm]

Nice going Lozzer

I might be misremembering but the 145hr quote might have been to change the bearings at both ends, rather than just at the P bracket end. The previous thread was a bit unclear about whether this was a "both ends" job, and the quoter might also have been confused about it. Changing the top bearings can be a much bigger job than changing the P bracket bearings because you have to undo the gearbox flange joint and you are working somewhat down a hole when you apply the heat plus you don't have room to swing your persuader. Anyways, good going at 5 hours (= 10 hours, if two blokes?)

I'm confused about why you changed them though. In pic 5 out of 6 the thickness of rubber on the old one looks pretty much same as new one. Or is that not the case when you get up close?

 

[omega2]

get some a/f on those P brackets before you relaunch

 

[Lozzer]

Here is a pic of the hydraulic pulling system.. In essence they put a sleeve on shaft engine side of p bracket which is attached by chains to a hydraulic ram pressed against the shaft nut.

It's a simple but efficient contraption. They lifted the props off by hand, good job the big engineer is built like an ox.... The smaller guy in the photos could stand up under the boat.... It's like little and large. Not sure if you can see it in pic..

It was Nick that organised it. I would imagine that it would be cheaper having Juan come to you. Saint Carles to hear is probable the thick end of 500 miles I should think.

Tomorrow's job is upgrading anchor rollers....

 

[Lozzer]

Hi JFM

The old thread was a little unclear agreed. The other company were asked to quote for exactly the same work, ie change bearings in p- brackets. I suspect that they were tying to over egg the pudding thinking I might be a skipper just happy to spend my bosses money. How wrong...

The photos don't really show the full story on the wear. I would say that the rubber had reduced by 40-50% and it was uneven wear as well. When we tested the movement on the shaft in situ there was a lot of play in it.

I had noticed a vibration towards the end of last season to a point where my crew cabin was really quite noisy, I'm almost on top of the p-bracket.

Can't wait to see the difference, I hope to relaunch on either Friday or Monday subject to weather. We are due some rain which will interfere with the polishing if the hull and anti fouling. I also have to replace both anchor rollers as originals in my opinion are not fit for purpose.

 

[jfm]

Hi JFM

The old thread was a little unclear agreed. The other company were asked to quote for exactly the same work, ie change bearings in p- brackets. I suspect that they were tying to over egg the pudding thinking I might be a skipper just happy to spend my bosses money. How wrong...

The photos don't really show the full story on the wear. I would say that the rubber had reduced by 40-50% and it was uneven wear as well. When we tested the movement on the shaft in situ there was a lot of play in it.

I had noticed a vibration towards the end of last season to a point where my crew cabin was really quite noisy, I'm almost on top of the p-bracket.

Can't wait to see the difference, I hope to relaunch on either Friday or Monday subject to weather. We are due some rain which will interfere with the polishing if the hull and anti fouling. I also have to replace both anchor rollers as originals in my opinion are not fit for purpose.

Ah thanks. 145hrs to change just the P bracket cutlass bearings is ridiculous, for sure. Good on you for shopping elsewhere, and getting a proper job done by the looks of it. All noted re the wear. If there was physical wobble when you shoved the shaft sideways then yes they needed changing!

I see you have those plastic strip things in the props, to create cupping or whatever the idea is. I've never used them. Any thoughts on them?

Good luck with the weather. I'm lifting out this Friday in La Rague, for a 4 day anodes/antifoul/the usual. You should persuade your boss to adopt black antifoul surely? The blue has gone quite blotchy

 

[Neil_Y]

Nice job, shame they're rubber though. I'd have preferred seeing a set of composites going in.

 

[mjf]

I had a similar call two weeks ago. Marine growth had grown between the shaft and the bearing material over the winter and forced the bearing aft out of the bracket. My engineer said he had done a P50 recently and the prop off was a sod and had to heat and use hydraulics to force the shaft back from the gearbox.....

Happily my prop was easy and the bearing came out without heat or hydraulics luckily bearings in stock cos that can be another issue

 

[Lozzer]

Hi JFM

the rubber strips are standard on these Veem props so really never given a thought about them.

I know when I had some vibration before I was told to check that they were in situ.

Mike, the props came off with heat and hammer. The hydraulics was to get CB's out.

I have to say it isn't a task I would fancy doing myself... Looks like sore knuckles and two weeks in bed with a bad back... The props are not lightweight for sure...

 

[Bandit]

It looks like your prop is drilled for a puller on the back face of the boss, do you have a puller?

Hammering a prop off is bad form, its much better to use heat and a puller.

Hammering a prop off is not good for the gearbox, coupling or the look of the prop.