Grinding Noise from Prop Shaft

[Jim Cate]

Sounds like a plan, JIm!

I had a look at the tidal range (thanks, OCPN) and it appears to be around 5-6 feet. That is enough to easily have a look at things if there is a wharf or some piles that you can dry out next to. This is not a particularly difficult or risky procedure, and would allow some time for careful inspection. Your cutless bearing is likely only a metre or so below your WL, so a five foot drop would give you a couple of hours to mess around with it.

Anyway, hope that it goes smoothly, in all senses!

Jim

[Nicholson58]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Sounds like a plan, JIm!

I had a look at the tidal range (thanks, OCPN) and it appears to be around 5-6 feet. That is enough to easily have a look at things if there is a wharf or some piles that you can dry out next to. This is not a particularly difficult or risky procedure, and would allow some time for careful inspection. Your cutless bearing is likely only a metre or so below your WL, so a five foot drop would give you a couple of hours to mess around with it.

Anyway, hope that it goes smoothly, in all senses!

Jim

I should have thought of that. Line up the labor and get the bottom painted too.

How does that cunlas come out? do you use a puller and witdraw it aft? If so, you might plug the shaft opening from inside. Woood plug or maybe even a hose and hose clamp. Uf you can then use a puller from aft, perhaps you can do most of the job wet or line up the tools to quickly complete the task as the tide runs out.

[BoomBrake]

Hi Jim,

Just spoke with Bluey at the marina. I briefly described your situation highlighting all the details, a quick summary of his comments:

- agrees that likely tropical marine growth probable cause of the grinding noise, hopefully all this cleaning will have eliminated
- greasing the Cutlass Bearing is not good, but not a major issue if you get most of it out
- not likely you got too much grease in the bearing, as this would be difficult in water, just remove as much as possible
- use raw dishwashing detergent to assist in removing the grease from in the bearing
- use a small wire to scrape any grease from the water lubricating channels in the Cutlass Bearing

Hope this helps and Merry Christmas for Wednesday!

[Whaubner]

From the post it sounds like we are past the easy stuff. This summer we has a grinding noise on our gori prop. It turned out to be the collar zinc had worked its way loose. It looked okay. It once you started playing around with it you could see it was loose.

[Bestathook]

I don't know if you can find one, but the stainless steel rib in a windshield wiper blade makes a great probe/cleaning tool. It is springy, and very thin and strong.

They are often in the trash can in front of auto parts stores.