Rope cutter bearings and drag?

[phatcat1]

Anyone any experience of Ambassador rope cutter bearings?

We were lifted and scrubbed a week ago and since then the engine revs wont get above 2600 when in "drive" + results in lots of black smoke out of the exhaust.
Neutral is fine and revs to 3400
We have a Kiwi prop and Ambassador stripper on a Volvo drive leg.

Volvo specialists have said it is drag caused by something on the shaft either the prop or stripper. Happy its not gearbox, engine or exhaust elbow.
Kiwi was serviced when lifted, re-greased and refitted. Blade pitch was not touched. All blades were returning to the stops OK and "flopping" down nicely when prop was rotated.
No-one checked or looked at rope cutter, only the prop.

The rope cutter is 7 years old and has never been "serviced"

Question - I have been told that the nylon "bearings" have probably had it after 7 years in silty water and that a generous attack with a pressure washer to remove barnacles has probably finished them off, causing the two metal cutters to drag.

Is this possible? has anyone had this sort of experience. Any ideas if this the problem? Obviously I am trying to minimise lift-outs/dry out.

 

[RobbieW]

Stripped and rebuilt my Ambassador a couple of weeks ago. On reassembly I was surprised that the fixed cutter didnt spin on its bearings, whether there was enough friction to cause your symptom is impossible to tell but it was tightly bound. There had been a lot of calcified build up on the cutter generally and I handnt cleaned the bearings. A longish swill in an HCL solution got rid of the calcium build up and final reassembly was much better. I will be ordering some spare bearers for the store cupboard though.