Cavitation issues, Alpha One

[VTcivicHB]

I recently had my lower unit worked on and unbeknown to me I think that forgot to add the thrust washer. I ran the boat without the thrust washer for about 45 min total and every time I went to full throttle the motor would cavitate. The prop has now ground into the lower unit housing [picture of the old lower unit attached]

Also, I noticed that I didn't have a trim anode (there's a giant hole where one should be). Would this add to the cavitation issues?

Tertiary, I think my gimbal bearing is shot. It make a grumbling noise the whole time I'm running. Do I have to undo all of the bellows again or can I just use a slide hammer and an alignment tool through the gimbal housing?

Thanks!

 

[ziggy]

Re: Cavitation issues, Alpha One

well, you've identified 2 possible problems, no thrust washer and no trim tab anode. seems like putting the thrust washer back where it belongs and at the very least adding a flat anode or a trim tab anode would be a good start.

hope ya didn't destroy the lower housing to much. maybe file off the burrs that the prop created?

as for the gimble brg. on my mc-1 (pre-alpha) you could replace the gimble brg. itself with just a drive pull. you would work through the bellows.