how do you remove a shaft on a v-drive?

chocolatethunder · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 26 City: Houston

anyone know how to remove a shaft off of a x-star?. i don't.

jvanick · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 5:29 am Post subject:

First off, why do you want to remove the drive shaft? Is it bent?

it's most likely the same procedure as my vlx.

back off/loosen the packing nuts and remove the packing material (looks like a rope)

unbolt the driveshaft coupler from the transmission.

inside that coupler you'll see a nut that holds the driveshaft to the coupler. there may be a cotter pin to prevent it from totally backing out. remove it. remove the nut. you'll most likely need to use a block of wood to keep the prop from spinning.

at this point, see if the coupler will freely come off... I've never seen them come off easily, so... put a spacer inbetween the end of the driveshaft and the transmission coupler. a medium socket works pretty well for this. start bolting the coupler back together with the spacer sandwidched in there... that will pop the coupler from the drive shaft. (you'll actually hear/feel it pop when you get it off) make sure you put all 4 bolts in to do this task and that while you're doing it, you don't bend the coupler flange.

your driveshaft may be offset from your rudder to make life easier at this point. if not, you'll have to remove the rudder. (There's 1 bolt on the rudder arm inside the boat that when you remove it, the rudder should come off) if your trailer has enough clearance you're ready to go... otherwise you're going to have to figure out how to lift the boat up until the rudder can come all the way out. I used a floor jack and a few 2x8's under the transom to lift the boat.

make sure that you inspect the cutlass bearings (strut bearings/bushings) before you put the shaft back in, if they're worn, you're going to want to replace them to save work later.

after you put the shaft back in, make sure the engine alignment is good. (do a search on shaft alignment in this forum and you should find the procedure).

put new packing in and tighten the packing nuts and you should be good to go.

-J

wesgardner · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 5:31 am Post subject:

Hey chocolatethunder,

Isn't it similar to any other? Undo coupling from trans., remove shaft from coupling, slide shaft out stern tube....oops, rudder;s in the way, may have to drop that...

Is there something else? I've only done remote hydraulic v's, great big sport fish, and lots of sailboats....

Wes

chocolatethunder · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 26 City: Houston

that sounds easy enough. thanks for the instructions. first off, i'm not sure where the packing material is. where the shaft comes into the hull, all there is on the inside is a water jacket looking thing with two hose clamps and no nuts or anything. my other problem seems to be the huge nut that holds the shaft in the coupler is about 1 inch from my gas tank. there is hardly enough room to get the socket on. no cotter pin. is that thing easy enough to turn without air tools? yeah, its bent, and i don't have my prop cause its already in the shop. how else can i stop the shaft from spinning?

RampageWake · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 6:49 am Post subject:

Get a friend outside to put a pipe wrench on the shaft, slip a piece of pipe over the handle of the handle of the pipe wrench to use as a cheater bar if nessecary.

tryan · Soul Rider Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Posts: 257

if the shaft is already bent, save yourself the hasle and cut it off with a sazall.

jvanick · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 9:13 am Post subject:

tryan
I would normally agree with that statement, but I tried to cut mine off with a sawzall and got nowhere. The hardened stainless steel is really tough to cut.

much easier to just remove it, plus you're going to have to get a new one on there anyways, so you might as well just do it the right way.

-J

RampageWake · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 9:15 am Post subject:

chocolatethunder,

How much is a new shaft? There is a place here in houston that straightens inboard shafts, sometimes it is cheaper to repair, sometimes it is cheaper to replace.

chocolatethunder · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 26 City: Houston

i'm taking it to bill moore over on telephone and airport near hobby. my mechanic says the guy can fix props, struts and shafts no problem. which is good cause i bend one of those every 10 hours or so in clear lake. where do you ride at rampage? im looking for a new place thats easier on my boat.

salmon_tacos · Posted: Apr 21, 2004 6:54 pm Post subject:

chocolatethunder,

Your user name causes disturbing thoughts of unpleasant bathroom activities. Shocked

It's a good thing you don't post much.

chocolatethunder · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 26 City: Houston

sorry - yours too! very nice.

chocolatethunder · Newbie Joined: 23 Feb 2004 Posts: 26 City: Houston

that dudes name in houston isn't bill moore, its mike hood, i don't know where i got that from.