[C320-list] Prop Shaft: Replacement

[Doug Treff]

I have been told that if you remove the cutlass bearing from the strut before attempting to pull the shaft, that there should be enough play in it to get the shaft past the rudder. I've not actually seen this work in real life. But it makes sense to pull the cutlass bearing anyway because if you are taking the shaft out, the bearing should probably be replaced too.

I wish I had known that 6 years ago, I paid extra to have the rudder dropped, then had to pay a rigger to reassemble  and calibrate everything afterwards.

--
Doug Treff
1996 - #350 - September Song
doug at treff.us

On Mon, Mar 12, 2018, at 3:13 PM, Warren Updike wrote:
> Another 320 owner and I are in the process of replacing the prop shaft 
> with a SS shaft. We find that the shaft does not easily pass by the 
> rudder, yet many have said that it can be removed without dropping the 
> rudder. Jeff Hare, in a previous post, indicated you have to use a bit 
> of muscle, but it wasn't hard. Another post said the strut was bent in 
> the process.
> 
> We are interested in comments and suggestions from those who have done 
> the shaft replacement as to how difficult is was to move the shaft past 
> the rudder.
> 
> Finally, has anyone heard of loosening the shaft strut as oppose to 
> dropping the rudder?
> Thanks guys,
> Warren and Pattie Updike
> 1994 C320 "Warr de Mar" #62
> Middle River, Chesapeake Bay
> 
>