New Cutlass Bearing - Installing shaft - too tight!

[RAW BAR]

I just installed a new (polymer) cutlass bearing, went fine, definitely a pain in the ass to get the old one out and press the new one in.

I started putting the shaft back in and can only get it about a foot in before it gets so tight I can't push it any more and it's extremely hard to twist it by hand. Double checked the shaft and strut hole dimensions, no problem there, also tried dish soap to lubricate but that didn't help much.

I'm going to call the bearing company tomorrow. They also sold me the dripless seal I'm installing and have been awesome to deal with. Any tips in the meantime?

 

[KevinC]

I just installed a new (polymer) cutlass bearing, went fine, definitely a pain in the ass to get the old one out and press the new one in.

I started putting the shaft back in and can only get it about a foot in before it gets so tight I can't push it any more and it's extremely hard to twist it by hand. Double checked the shaft and strut hole dimensions, no problem there, also tried dish soap to lubricate but that didn't help much.

I'm going to call the bearing company tomorrow. They also sold me the dripless seal I'm installing and have been awesome to deal with. Any tips in the meantime?

I was under the impression that the cutlass bearing was pressed in with the shaft installed.

-Kevin

 

[Strecker25]

no way it should be that tight. ours is a bit stiff if it's sitting on land and dry but once you get it moving or wet the bearing its smooth, something is off.

Any buildup on the shaft? did the bearing slide onto the shaft before you installed it ok? if so, maybe the strut compressed it somehow.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

Not sure what you mean by "can only get about a foot in before it gets so tight". The cutlass bearing isn't even a foot long itself, so can you clarify?

 

[RAW BAR]

I was under the impression that the cutlass bearing was pressed in with the shaft installed.

-Kevin

No, but I think there is a way to do it without removing the shaft. I removed the shaft to replace the seal and decided to change out the cutlass bearing while I was at it.

 

[RAW BAR]

no way it should be that tight. ours is a bit stiff if it's sitting on land and dry but once you get it moving or wet the bearing its smooth, something is off.

Any buildup on the shaft? did the bearing slide onto the shaft before you installed it ok? if so, maybe the strut compressed it somehow.

The shaft is clean, I lightly hit some areas of growth and bottom paint with 220 sandpaper and its shiny and clean. I didn't put the bearing on the shaft before I pressed it into the strut, I assume you mean to test fit? I have another bearing for the other side so I'll see how it fits, thanks.

 

[RAW BAR]

Not sure what you mean by "can only get about a foot in before it gets so tight". The cutlass bearing isn't even a foot long itself, so can you clarify?

The bearing is 6 inches long. I can get about a foot of the shaft into the bearing (and sticking out the other side). There's a taper, I basically get just past the taper when it hangs up.

 

[Strecker25]

The shaft is clean, I lightly hit some areas of growth and bottom paint with 220 sandpaper and its shiny and clean. I didn't put the bearing on the shaft before I pressed it into the strut, I assume you mean to test fit? I have another bearing for the other side so I'll see how it fits, thanks.

yup, that’s what I meant just as a test. Worth a try on the other side if you can just to see if the binding is once it’s installed

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

The bearing is 6 inches long. I can get about a foot of the shaft into the bearing (and sticking out the other side). There's a taper, I basically get just past the taper when it hangs up.

Thanks for the clarification. Are you sure you got the correct bearing size? What is your shaft diameter? I assume that the new bearing is the right length to fit into the strut perfectly.

 

[RAW BAR]

Thanks for the clarification. Are you sure you got the correct bearing size? What is your shaft diameter? I assume that the new bearing is the right length to fit into the strut perfectly.

1.5" diameter. Strut is about 8" long but the old bearing was 6" so that's what I went with.

 

[Skybolt]

You can use a tool made by Strut-Pro to remove the cutlass with the shaft in place. It can also be done with the shaft removed. The shaft can certainly be put back in with the new cutlass in place.

A new cutlass usually has a lot of play in it. It is not tight around the shaft. It's not supposed to be.

I would pick up another cutlass and run it up the shaft to verify it's fitment. But I will say this, putting the shaft back in is not easy. You need to support it along the way and keep it at the right angle.

 

[RAW BAR]

You can use a tool made by Strut-Pro to remove the cutlass with the shaft in place. It can also be done with the shaft removed. The shaft can certainly be put back in with the new cutlass in place.

A new cutlass usually has a lot of play in it. It is not tight around the shaft. It's not supposed to be.

I would pick up another cutlass and run it up the shaft to verify it's fitment. But I will say this, putting the shaft back in is not easy. You need to support it along the way and keep it at the right angle.

Great to know, thanks. It's a tough angle to support alone and it could definitely be that I'm not getting it lined up well enough.

 

[Jimmy Buoy]

1.5" diameter. Strut is about 8" long but the old bearing was 6" so that's what I went with.

For a 1.5" shaft, there's a "Brad" and a "Boss" bearing listed. Both have the same inner diameter for the shaft, both are 6" long but one is 2" outer diameter while the other is 2 3/8" outer diameter. So they fit the same shaft, just different strut tube sizes so your shaft should fit.

I've used the strut-pro tool on my last boat so I wouldn't have to remove the shaft. Those things are quite heavy to install single handed. It is possible that you've not got it lined up square with the strut (like Skybolt said).

 

[The Bill Collector]

The bearing is 6 inches long. I can get about a foot of the shaft into the bearing (and sticking out the other side). There's a taper, I basically get just past the taper when it hangs up.

Did you have the shaft balanced? You should while it's out and part of that is polishing the surface.

 

[ttmott]

If it went in and through the bearing then it's the right size.
Using regular waterless hand cleaner (without pumice) coat the bearing and shaft generously and it'll slide right in.
The shaft should be clean and bright. Never use petroleum products.