[Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal

Thu Apr 24 10:26:41 PDT 2003

Bob,

It should just unscrew. I liked Jim Mennucci's idea of having a second 
person inside the boat with a pipe wrench to hold the tube and preventing it 
from turning. The fact that it wants to spring back tells me that the 
caulking used may have been 3M 5200. I would try heating up the culass 
bearing housing so the caulking "gives up". You might be surprised how much 
heat you will need, but I would heat some, then try turning, then heat some 
more, then turn some move until it unscrews. Don't burn the boat up!

Mike Lehman
"Gilleleje" #505

----Original Message Follows----
From: Bob <bob at fox.nstn.ca>
Reply-To: Alberg 30 public list <public-list at alberg30.org>
To: "'Alberg 30 public list'" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Subject: RE: [Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal
Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2003 11:34:36 -0300

Mike;

I have tried to turn the stern post flange and it does turn very
slightly (like trying to twist a heavy coil spring) and it springs back
in place with stern post flange holes lining back up with the holes in
the stern post.

It has never leaked yet around the stern post, so perhaps the stern tube
is still well sealed. Another fellow Alberg sailor mentioned holding the
stern tube with pipe wrenches.

So am I correct, if I turn the flange counter clockwise, it should
"unthread" itself if the stern tuber is held in place?

If I can get the flange off and work on it inside then I can change the
cutlass bearing.

I do have a small leak beyond the stern post that appears to be running
down from the area of the rudder post area; I can see the small leak but
not its source. Hopefully it is only a rudder stuffing box problem.

That is the next stop when I finish the shaft/stuffing box/stern post
flange job.

Thanks for the tips and advice,

Bob
A30 #560

-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at alberg30.org
[mailto:public-list-bounces at alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Mike Lehman
Sent: April 23, 2003 2:32 PM
To: public-list at alberg30.org
Subject: RE: [Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal

Bob,

Here's a thought - use a magic marker to put an indicator mark on the
stern
tube inside the boat. I believe that you can do this from the inspection

plate opening in the cockpit. Then turn the cutlass bearing housing
counter-clockwise for a quarter turn. Then look at the mark on the stern

tube. If it hasn't moved, you're in good shape. If it has moved, then it
the
stern tube isn't seated well and is probably leaking. The good news is
that
you have discovered a misterious leak; the bad news is that it's more
work
than you bargained for, but then again it's a boat and things are always

more difficult that they seem at first.

Also, George was suggesting dripless packing. I used it on three boats
and
it works great. Produces less friction that conventional packing and
doesn't
drip anymore which means less maintenance. Mine has been in place for 6
years and still working fine and I haven't touched it!

Mike Lehman
"Gilleleje" #505

----Original Message Follows----
From: Bob <bob at fox.nstn.ca>
Reply-To: Alberg 30 public list <public-list at alberg30.org>
To: "'Alberg 30 public list'" <public-list at alberg30.org>
Subject: RE: [Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 13:19:57 -0300

Mike:

My hull A30 1974 hull number is #560 "Persephone" originally owned by
Charlie Bell in Ontario.

I have loosened the 2 bolts that hold the flange on the sternpost, and
can turn the whole flange slightly with difficulty. It appears to be
stuck to a lot of caulking.

How is this flange connected to the stern tube that fastens to the
stuffing box inside the boat?

If you look inside the boat where the tube protrudes from the stern post
there is one "pile" of caulking.
I'm not sure that when I attempt to turn and pull the stern flange if it
is turning the inside stern tube at the same time.

Is the stern tube held in place just by the pile of caulking inside the
sternpost or is it threaded into the sternpost flange assembly?
I cannot see how the two parts are connected.

I have documented everything, parts needed; bolts, clamps etc, so far as
it was disassembled.  (Your instructions for removing the shaft coupling
were great!) I'm stuck on the stern post flange/stern tube part at this
point.

(Q1) What size packing is needed for the 7/8" shaft packing box?
(Q2) What size is the bullet shaped anode that fastens to the prop nut?

I have most parts except the anode and packing as of yet.

Thanks for "all" the help.

Bob Crinion
Persephone A30 #560
Nova Scotia

-----Original Message-----
From: public-list-bounces at alberg30.org
[mailto:public-list-bounces at alberg30.org] On Behalf Of Mike Lehman
Sent: April 23, 2003 12:07 PM
To: public-list at alberg30.org
Subject: Re: [Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal

Hi Bob,

It would help to know what hull #/year of your boat. On my boat
#505/1972
the cutlass bearing housing is screwed onto the stern tube. There are
two
bolts into the keel on the cutlass bearing housing. Remove the two bolts
and
unscrew the complete housing from the stern tube. Now that you have the
housing with old cutlass bearing inside, you can place it in a vise and
using a hacksaw blade carefully cut sections out of the cutlass bearing.

Once you have removed a section or two you should be able to remove the
entire cutlass bearing from the housing. Then work on removing the
screws.
Heat might help. You may eventually end up drilling out and re-tapping
the
set screws. Replacement set screws should be SS allen screws. Install
the
new cutlass bearing; cut it to proper length; and drill water vent holes

through the bearing where the water inlets are in the housing. Put in
new
set screws and re-install the housing with new bearing back on the boat.
The
good thing about removing the housing is that if you do not possess the
skills or tools, you can take it to a machine shop.

Mike Lehman
"Gilleleje" #505

----Original Message Follows----
From: Bob <bob at fox.nstn.ca>
Reply-To: Alberg 30 public list <public-list at alberg30.org>
To: Public-list at alberg30.org
Subject: [Alberg30] Cutlass bearing removal
Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2003 11:03:13 -0300

I just pulled the shaft to replace stuffing box hose and to inspect
condition of shaft condition.
I would like to replace the cutlass bearing as well.

There are two set screws on the outside of the stern post flange that
hold the cutlass bearing in place.

These set screws have a slot for screwdriver removal.

I cannot remove these screws in order to remove the cutlass bearing.

They appear to be seized.

(Q1) Do I need heat or an impact tool to remove these screws?

I'm afraid of snapping the head off these set screws.

(Q2) Is the stern tube that fastens to stuffing box hose also fastened
to sternpost flange?

Any advice would be appreciated.

    +---------------------------------------------------------------+
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