Hello Freedom lovers,
Our prop (a Cambell Sailor) was damaged by the marina during a haul-out. I have not seen it, as it was removed and sent out for repairs without telling me about any of it. My questions to the forum are: Can a fixed prop be restored to its previous smooth-running state if it has been bent?
How likely is that the drivetrain (shaft/bearing/coupling/transmission) did not incur damage if the force was large enough to (I’m assuming) bend the prop?
It might be helpful to reach out to the shop doing the work for an update and diagnosis. But they should be able to repair it and test it without too much trouble.
The rest of the drivetrain is worth having checked to resolve any issues prior the spring launch rush. At least a good visual inspection of the strut, shaft as it goes through the log, the seal and flange.
You may not actually be sure until after the boat is launched and you run the boat to see how it feels and if there are any vibration issues.
Hopefully there is no damage and all is well.
Good luck.
Thank you, Pat. How would you inspect it on the hard before launching? Just seeing how the shaft turns, checking tolerances?
Yes, its really just an inspection by eye for any further damage. Idea is to slowly look around for anything glaring in drivetrain that looks odd. Probably will not know if all is well until boat is back in water and you give boat a run at various rpms.
- Turn shaft to see if it is true and in column.
- Inspect strut to see if there are any stress cracks at hull and if is still perpendicular to hull.
- Check cutless bearing rubber where shaft goes through front and back. Is the rubber compressed against edges on one side and open on opposite ?
- Looking at shaft as it enters hull is it roughly centered as it goes through log ?
- Inside boat at transmission does the Flange/coupling turn true in its circle ?
- Are all the motor mounts still tight and aligned not moved ? Usually bed is clean under mount base so any shifting can be seen.
If still concerned then alignment at coupling could be checked with feeler gauge. Of course alignment is a whole topic of its own that has been discussed in other posts by owners more knowledgeable than me.
Good luck
A yard lifted my F 35 (P) by placing the lift belts under the prop shaft- bent it - but didn’t tell me. They installed a new pss shaft seal at that time- couple days later I was in a 70 mile race and had to motor for a time- vibration like crazy. So 70 miles away at end of race I asked the yard owner to drive out and inspect - he said the prop shaft had been bent- asked did I hit a log, did I go aground, etc.- I said no…. He wanted me to limp the boat back which I did. Once in his yard he said they lifted the boat wrong- they replaced the shaft, motor mounts and new pss shaft seal( which was also shot). Yard manager gave me stickers which said “Lift Here” as he said my boat wasn’t marked so they lifted wrong - I showed him Freedom’s factory stickers placed accurately and said no need for their stickers. All good now.
So I experienced
- severe motor vibration,
- lots of motor mount dust and flaking
- water in my bilge
- sloooow boat speed
If it’s the prop - mtl you’ll need a new prop too
Thanks to everyone who has responded to this, your advice is much appreciated!
To give an update, both the prop and the shaft were bent, as determined by a prop shop.
The prop has been replaced and the shaft will be soon.
Since the shaft is out, I was thinking it’s a good time to replace the cutless bearing. Has anyone here done so for a F40/40 (or a boat with similar P-strut and dimensions) and if so, could you please share your experience?
Anything from how difficult it might be to what tools and parts are needed would be good to know.
Thanks!
Now is precisely the time to replace your cutlass bearing. I’ve replaced mine several times. I’ve pounded it out using a dowel (1-1/4" I think. Maybe bigger. Whatever is smaller than the diameter of the cutlass bearing).
You should also look at doing maintenance on the shaft seal. I have a PSS, and it suggests replacing the bellows every 5(?) years.
– Geoff
Thank you, Geoff. Did you have to cut the cutless bearing on the inside to get it to come out, or did it come out fairly easily?
Are there set screws holding it? Any idea on the dimensions of the replacement bearing, anyone?
I would like have the replacement ready before removing the old one, as we live quite far away from the boat.
Thank you!
Yes, there are (2?) set screws that hold it in place. Be sure to loosen them before trying to remove it (don’t ask how I learned that). If you don’t loosen them, you’ll have to cut the bearing…
I don’t remember the dimensions of the cutlass bearing, and mine may be different from yours. I have a 1-1/8" shaft (which I will say is undersized. A 1-1/4" would be much better, but I digress…). I’ve replaced these in various Central American countries and had no problems obtaining the correct size. You really need someone to measure the shaft, OD of the bearing, and length.
Having said all of this, why don’t you just have the yard replace it? They should have a tool designed to remove/install it, and it should be a fairly quick job.
– Geoff
I may end up doing that, but 1) the last two jobs I had this and another yard do had unintended consequences that later had to be fixed; 2) I like to have at least have some idea of how to do certain essential tasks on the boat.
It’s interesting that you think a 1 1/8 shaft is undersized for the F40/40. Why? That’s what we have and until now I have never thought of it as being inadequate, until they put a sling on the prop and bent it and the shaft.
Thank you for your advice!
Quite a few years ago I researched prop shaft diameters and found that 1-1/8" was the absolute minimum diameter given the length of the shaft. 1-1/4" would be much better in reducing vibration.
– Geoff
We also had issues with our stuffing box after the yard bent our prop during a haul out. Yard paid for new prop, new cutlass bearing, new prop - but they didn’t pay for the stuffing fox as we found that out later. Hauled out at Safe Harbor Harbortown Fort Pierce Florida. THen they trhew us out after they hit the rudder putting us back in. Not impressed.
Does anyone know where the set screws on the P Strut for the cutless bearing are on the 40/40? We’re trying to replace it today.
Thank you!
I’m sure that this is a bit late, but asking the day-of generally doesn’t work too well. Hopefully you found them
The strut set screws are the bottom 2. The top 3 are for my Spurs line cutter.
– Geoff
