inboard cutlass bearing

[squin]

This is my first post and also my first inboard boat, i have a couple of questions. 1: how often should rhe cutlass bearing be changed? 2: Should i change the shaft seal at certain intervals or just if it starts to leak? I just got the boat last saturday and i want to get her in the water but i have some minor things to do first and wanted to change these things if needed. Its a 1967 25ft international cuddy cabin with a marine power 454 and a brass (i think) prop. Thanks for any and all replies.

 

[steelespike]

Over 40 years 6 different boats 1929-1953 I never changed a cuttlass bearing. By the way is it Cutlass or cut less? I would say wiggle it,check for loos ness.
On my boats the shaft seal was like a old style plumbing packing with a graphite packing and a nut you tightened just enough to seal.Maybe even let the occasional drip to keep it lubed and a little cooler.I seldom tightened one and only repacked one.

 

[squin]

Awesome thanks. It has no play in it but i wasnt sure if it was just one of those things youre supposed to change regularly. Also i wasnt sure whether it was cutlass or cutless ive seen it spelled both ways so i just picked one. The shaft seal doesnt leak but it is definetly old. It looks like old plumbing parts. How would i repack it, or what is repacking? I know how to repack bearings but i know its not the same thing.

 

[steelespike]

If it's not leaking leave well enough alone. Feel the nut after running it.Not likely to get hot with that mass of metal inside.
With my old boats I could turn the shaft by hand. An easy way to tell if the packing is too tight.
If you want to repack it find some packing first.Back the nut off and dig out the old packing.
sometimes you can find preshaped packing.

 

[squin]

Got it. Thanks. Ill probably just leave it alone unless it starts to leak.

 

[Grub54891]

As stated above,it should drip a bit while underway,but sometimes they do drip while docked.3-7 drips a min isn't uncommon,make shure the bilge pump is set to auto. If it's to tight it will feel warm/hot while underway,which wears the shaft itself prematurely. If it wears to much,it'll eventually cut the shaft,never seen it happen nyself but I've heard it can happen. Then the water comes in and .....not fun. I've repacked many shafts,some had to be replaced just because of wear at the stuffing box,but them were 30-40 year old boats. If the stuffing box is cool while underway,you should be fine. The only lube is water on them. You even might have a dripless stuffing box,just a black deal that rides on a stainless machined surface,with a preset tension in the stuffing hose. If that,mostly no worries!.