How to remove the shaft coupling

[sinnerman]

Looks like my cramped Catalina 30 installation.

It is like the draftsman forgot to include the transmission in the drawings when laying out the boat...

[sailor_ed]

Originally Posted by DougR

Sometimes with a drop center transmission it’s possible to remove the bolts that hold the transmission to the flywheel housing and rotate the transmission around it’s input shaft 90 degrees to port or starboard. This moves the gearbox flange sideways out of the way of the prop shaft coupling and allows the shaft coupling to be moved forward off the shaft.

Very neat trick! That one goes straight to long term memory!

[Gary Matthesen]

Should you choose to reuse the coupling and not cut it off. Mark where the two couplings came apart so you can reassemble in the same orientation. Also mark coupling to shaft orientation. This will limit any future sort of imbalance.
I loved my dripless!

[foufou]

I had to do this a couple of years ago and made a separate pulling plate out of 1/4" steel. I drilled the holes in the same configuration as the coupler and proceeded as described above. Using a separate piece of steel to pull with avoids endangering the transmission flange. As has been mentioned penetrating oil and heat are your friends. But patience is the most useful tool. Best wishes.

[vpbarkley]

With the R&D 'Split' couplings, the shaft still has to slide axially to disengage. A split coupling can be spread so it's probably easier to get it to release the shaft.

Assuming axial clearance between the prop shaft and rudder, the flange can be removed using progressively longer spacers and heat as described.

[Boatyarddog]

Originally Posted by RodrigoDC

Hello, I'm trying to replace the stuffing box for a dripless system.

Any ideas how to remove the shaft coupling in order to remove the box, nut and hose?

Please refer to the picture. As you can see, there is no room to pull out the coupling away from the shaft without removing the transmission first.

Thanks in advance for your input.

Lift the back of the engine, to get the clearance for the coupler.
You can then get to the coupler face and work from underneath.
Try Stormalongs approach, you can bend or break those trans couplers and you'll probably want to replace the shaft coupler anyhow, unless it's a snug fit on the shaft and can be removed without to much trouble.

Pull the coupler as mentioned in several posts here.

NOTE: your hauled out correct?

You'll be removing the stuffing box, so your going to be pulling your shaft log hose as well.
There going to be a lot of water coming in if your not out of the water.

And, if you are out of the water, then pulling the shaft back, from under the boat is a good way to get your, coupler and packing hardware out.
Boatyarddog

[Cadence]

My first question would be, how far back can you move the shaft before interfering with your rudder. If you have a few inches split the hose and remove it, slide the shaft back and go from there depending on what you can gain for clearance.

[aquafacts]

An alternave dripless "stuffing box" is the Volvo Penta type - much cheaper than PSS etc.
For a 1" shaft - it only requires 2-5/8" forward of the tube flange. I use these with many repower jobs. They are used on all the European boats with great longevity.
Agreed - Don't risk damaging the transmission coupling - cut couping off shaft ! Make cut along keyway so not to damage shaft - then it can be pressed out genty with the nuts stacked up method mentioned earier.

[Scrimshaw4]

Depending on the amount of room between the prop and rudder you may have to remove the prop to allow the shaft to move aft using the procedures above recommended to push shaft through the coupler. Obviously you are on the hard so prop pulling shouldn't be a problem. Since you doing all of this why not pull the shaft and replace the the cutlass bearing. JMHO

[Lancerbye]

I have had to do this several times and like you, I have limited room. I have taken to lifting and blocking the back end of the engine/transmission set up. It will swivel on the front mounts. Once I have clearance, I use a puller to remove the coupling. Did this to replace the dripless seal last fall, in the water.

[Tanqueray]

Here are some videos that may help…

https://youtu.be/FUjoyKfNZ_U

https://youtu.be/4RlzgOOXhhQ


Just today I removed my traditional stuffing box (the one in these videos) and installed a Volvo dripless stuffing box…no video yet..but coming.


Good luck!


Greg