Stern tube

[sekyd]

Can anyone help me with ways of removing a bronze stern tube, 13inches long, 1 1/4 inch internal diameter from a wooden yacht. It is firmly embedded in white lead. I have tried pulling it out and hitting it out but it will not budge.

 

[Idlerboat]

I had a similar problem after my bronze tube was broken by a sling in the wrong place. After the normal technicians tap did nothing, I ended up drilling holes parallel to the stern tube with an extra long drill bit all around the outside then rotated it a few degrees side to side with a plumbers wrench. After replacing the whole lot with a 316 stainless tube I bedded the new one back in with heaps of epoxy resin. After aligning the tube I made a seal on the outside of the boat around the tube with a plastic bag and masking tape then filled the void on the inside with very thin epoxy. BUT check and re check the tube is in the right spot before gluing.


regards

marty_dean@yahoo
Idler

 

[yoda]

Have you tried using a long threaded bar and nuts with suitable size washers on the inside and a tube larger than the stearn tube on the outside and pulling it out using a spanner on the threaded bar nuts? Haven't expressed that very well so if you want a drawing PM me with an e-mail address and I will send one.

Yoda

 

[sekyd]

I have tried this method with someone tapping at the same time as the nut was tightened on the thread, it would not budge.

 

[maxi]

Get hold of an industrial hacksaw blade (approx 1"wide) & cut through the sterntube wall longditudinaly inside the tube, a slow job but it will work.
Then use a long cold chisel or a sharpened piece of re-bar to fold the tube inwards along the cut line. This will release the seal and reduce the tube diameter and, lo and behold, it will come out easily.

 

[sekyd]

Thanks for that - it is good to have confirmation of ones thoughts.