Bent prop shaft

[kronald]

Okay, I admit it. I finally hit a rock and bent the shaft. It is a 1989 or 1990 Mercruiser 5.7L Malibu Sunsetter.

My question is this something that requires special tools? And can I fix it myself? I think the replacement part is a 18-2166. The prop is probably gone too, I think only the last 12-18 inches of the shaft is affected. But, maybe it might have caused more damage elsewhere? I was going very slowly almost idle speed. Any thoughts on how to replace the shaft?

Thanks,

ken:'(

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Bent prop shaft

Welcome to iboats......
I'm a little confused, because the entire shaft is less than 18" long......
Nevermind, you have an inboard......:$

 

[tommays]

Re: Bent prop shaft

:devil: The prop shaft change will need more special tools than you will want to know about

sorry


Tommays

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Bent prop shaft

Got insurance?

If you can see a visible wobble in the shaft when you spin the prop, it might need anything from just the shaft to pretty much all the guts. If the wobble is barely noticable but bent beyond spec, it might be straightenable.

 

[salty87]

Re: Bent prop shaft

malibu sunsetter is an inboard. straight inboard?

if so, its pretty easy to pull the old one and install a new one. there are no special tools needed although you need to verify that the coupler lines up with your transmission within tolerances of .003", going from memory.

there are 4 or 5 bolts holding your coupler to output of the transmission. the shaft attaches to the coupler with one of those slotted keys (been a long day, what are they called again?) and probably 2 bolts that lock the shaft into the coupler. once you have those off the shaft you can slide it through the hull opening after opening up the packing nut if you have that style. i have dripless packing so i had to undo that before sliding the shaft out. the coupler can be difficult to get off the shaft but persistence pays off. some heat and a mallet do wonders, using care of course.

taking the prop off first makes things a little less likely to slam around.

you'll want to put new cutlass bearings in your strut since the shaft is out of the way.

i'd suggest going to your prop shop for all of the goodies. they can tell you if your shaft is too far gone and handle reordering everything you'll need. my shop pulled my old cutlass bearings for me- they had the tool and i wasn't taking my strut off to pull them on a bench.

i'm a little light on some details but it's not as hard as you might think. i have no idea on a v-drive.

 

[QC]

Re: Bent prop shaft

Good catch salty. That 'splains the "last 12-18 inches" thing . . . 8) All the Sunsetter's I can find are direct drives, no V-drives as far as I can tell, especially that age.

 

[95yj]

Re: Bent prop shaft

I though the bad bowling ball analogy was Russell Beland.

Not to be confused with, "The nutrimatic drink dispenser delivers a cupful of liquid that tastes almost, but not quite, entirely unlike tea."

 

[tommays]

Re: Bent prop shaft

IF you have a shaftdrive you will need to drop the rudder and then use a prop puller most likely

Then if you unbolt the coupling at the trany it may be pretty stuck on the shaft which would require a puller and MAYBE some heat

Then you can slide out the shaft and see if the shop can get it true again

If i am wrong again and you have a v-drive it will be a bit harder to get at things

Tommays