Bracket

Bracket

If the rubber bearing is worn out, the bushing has to be replaced. The ribbed rubber of the bearings should give a touch-fit all around. If the shaft has scope to move, it will set up unwanted vibrations along the drivetrain, which can cause further problems to the sterngland and the bearings within the gearbox itself. If the ribbing is wearing on one side, this is a sign of engine misalignment.

The propeller and shaft is disassembled, whereupon the two unbraco screws in the side of the bracket is to loosen. They can be hard to discover due to many layers of paint. Now the bronze/rubber bearing is ready to be demounted by a puller.

The shaft measures 1"1/4 in diameter and the bearing fitted is 1"1/4 x 1"3/4 x 5".

If the shaft is worn where it has been placed in the bearing, it is not necessary to buy a new shaft as the cone is identical in both ends, so just mount the shaft upside down, and it is ready for 20 years more!