replacing cutless bearing in CD 31

[Russell Johnson]

I am planning on replacing the cutless bearing on my CD31 - anyone with experience?

Thanks



rajarch@bellsouth.net

[Tom]

I am planning on replacing the cutless bearing on my CD31 - anyone with experience?

Thanks

Russell, I have CD 31 # 15 and replaced my cutlass bearing about 5 years ago. I guess you've read all the info in the archives about pulling the shaft and so on. If not, write me directly and I'll tell you my experiences. The one thing that you might not figure out is that after the original cutlass bearing was installed and the set screws put in place, Cape Dory lined up the slots on the set screws, wired through all of them with a piece of monel seizing wire which was then twisted and buried in a groove they cut into the fiberglass and then glassed over with marine tex or something like that. Getting the set screws out can be a little mystifying until you find them since on mine they didn't show. There were three on mine although others have posted on our board here they had only two. After the set screws are removed you might still not be able to get the old bearing out. One often has to cut it with a hack saw blade held in your hand so you can collapse it inward. This is not usually a one day job unless you're really lucky. I had to cut my prop shaft with a sawzall to get it out and I used a socket and all the tricks mentioned in the archives first. You should have penetrating oil working on the shaft and collar as we speak. Good luck, this is one of those little jobs that can become a week long ordeal. Put Never Seize on everything when you put it back together to give yourself a chance next time.



TomCambria@mindspring.com