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Had a pretty pronounced vibration through my drive train on Odyssey the past few weeks. So much so that I didn't use the boat much. I tore the rotator cuff of my rt shoulder and can't reach and wrench so its been a cluster trying to get things done.
So, initially I was figuring the Cutless went. Bought one, rolled the trailer into the water and took the boat out onto the ramp to change it...it seemed fine. Anode was tight, and no visible warp in the shaft or prop. So backed it back into the water thinking I need to go to the reversing gear.
So next I thought perhaps the coupling was bad...I could hold my hand at the aft area of the reversing gear and it was rough. No leaks though and no whining to indicate a bearing. So I let it lay for a few days in hopes my shoulder would improve..not!
While I was taking it easy I went through the thoughts of pilot bearing, thrust bearing etc but didn't think it was that. Again, no oil leak, no whine. That boat had been running fine and this just seemed to start after about 2 weeks in the water.
I'd had her out in 6 foot seas the day before it happened but didn't note any problems at that time...she was in 25 knts knifing waves well healed over as well at that time.
Shoulder wasn't getting any better so a couple of guys offered to wrench for me and Id tell them what to do...so we went for an alignment and here's how we did it.
1. Loosened stuffing box so shaft could slide back.
2. Remove 3 bolts from coupling and slid shaft back an inch or so...it dropped about 1/16 of an inch.
3. Checked coupling for signs of wear...it was fine.
4. Eyeballed the center of the shaft to the rubber on the stuffing box...indications were the engine had to come down. That was just looking at it. So holding the shaft centered as we could in relation to the rubber (so trying to ensure a good alignment coming into the boat), we moved it toward the reversing gear. Figured we'd need mounts adjusted.
5. Loosened all motor mounts and using a feeler gauge on 4 sides of the coupling we adjusted mounts, both front and rear to have that flange of the coupling mount right up...please keep in mind that we eyeballed it center of the stuffing box rubber and not off to one side or the other nor high or low.
6. Then put the 3 bolts back in the coupling flange and finger tightened them.
7. When the 3 bolts on the coupling finger tight used a feeler guage to double check and finally tighten everything.
All 4 motor mounts had a slight adjustment and to be honest I really couldnt tell if we had it or not. The guys tightened everything up and we ran it up at the dock. Immediately there was notable improvement, the visible vibration of the port back stay was gone...the prop is off to that side.
We were at it for 3 hours and I figured we'd done as best we could and was thinking that next I change out a reversing gear. We called it a day and cleaned up. HOWEVER, a nice 18 kt breeze came up so I figured I get a sail in. As soon as I backed off the dock I knew it was better. Put the boat in forward and all I could feel was some prop wash on the rudder which went away once I got way on.
I can still feel something, or I think I do, but it is really, really smooth. Maybe I'm too particular. So I sailed for about an hour and as the sea built a little bit I drops the sails and motored into some chop. Felt pretty good. Motored the boat back to the dock, about 3 miles and all was fine.
So, that's where I am with it. I'd like thoughts from guys who had similar experiences. I put this engine in last fall, it ran fine without vibration. I'm thinking perhaps the engine shifted on rough sail earlier this year...or something could be on the way out.
So, initially I was figuring the Cutless went. Bought one, rolled the trailer into the water and took the boat out onto the ramp to change it...it seemed fine. Anode was tight, and no visible warp in the shaft or prop. So backed it back into the water thinking I need to go to the reversing gear.
So next I thought perhaps the coupling was bad...I could hold my hand at the aft area of the reversing gear and it was rough. No leaks though and no whining to indicate a bearing. So I let it lay for a few days in hopes my shoulder would improve..not!
While I was taking it easy I went through the thoughts of pilot bearing, thrust bearing etc but didn't think it was that. Again, no oil leak, no whine. That boat had been running fine and this just seemed to start after about 2 weeks in the water.
I'd had her out in 6 foot seas the day before it happened but didn't note any problems at that time...she was in 25 knts knifing waves well healed over as well at that time.
Shoulder wasn't getting any better so a couple of guys offered to wrench for me and Id tell them what to do...so we went for an alignment and here's how we did it.
1. Loosened stuffing box so shaft could slide back.
2. Remove 3 bolts from coupling and slid shaft back an inch or so...it dropped about 1/16 of an inch.
3. Checked coupling for signs of wear...it was fine.
4. Eyeballed the center of the shaft to the rubber on the stuffing box...indications were the engine had to come down. That was just looking at it. So holding the shaft centered as we could in relation to the rubber (so trying to ensure a good alignment coming into the boat), we moved it toward the reversing gear. Figured we'd need mounts adjusted.
5. Loosened all motor mounts and using a feeler gauge on 4 sides of the coupling we adjusted mounts, both front and rear to have that flange of the coupling mount right up...please keep in mind that we eyeballed it center of the stuffing box rubber and not off to one side or the other nor high or low.
6. Then put the 3 bolts back in the coupling flange and finger tightened them.
7. When the 3 bolts on the coupling finger tight used a feeler guage to double check and finally tighten everything.
All 4 motor mounts had a slight adjustment and to be honest I really couldnt tell if we had it or not. The guys tightened everything up and we ran it up at the dock. Immediately there was notable improvement, the visible vibration of the port back stay was gone...the prop is off to that side.
We were at it for 3 hours and I figured we'd done as best we could and was thinking that next I change out a reversing gear. We called it a day and cleaned up. HOWEVER, a nice 18 kt breeze came up so I figured I get a sail in. As soon as I backed off the dock I knew it was better. Put the boat in forward and all I could feel was some prop wash on the rudder which went away once I got way on.
I can still feel something, or I think I do, but it is really, really smooth. Maybe I'm too particular. So I sailed for about an hour and as the sea built a little bit I drops the sails and motored into some chop. Felt pretty good. Motored the boat back to the dock, about 3 miles and all was fine.
So, that's where I am with it. I'd like thoughts from guys who had similar experiences. I put this engine in last fall, it ran fine without vibration. I'm thinking perhaps the engine shifted on rough sail earlier this year...or something could be on the way out.
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