2011 R29 Cutlass Bearing Replacement

[fishheadbarandgrill]

What is a typical time to replace the cutlass bearing. I'm not having any symptoms but I'm nearing 15 years and 1900 hours. I'm pulling the boat this fall for bottom paint so I'm thinking it might be a good time to replace the cutlass bearing. Thoughts?

 

[doke01]

I have about 1600 hours and 18 years and was thinking the same thing. I think Ranger uses quality parts and does a good job on shaft alignment for them to last this long. I'm having no symptoms but am concerned about the age as well. I'm disconnecting the shaft to work on the engine, so I'm going to do it this year.

 

[fishheadbarandgrill]

I have about 1600 hours and 18 years and was thinking the same thing. I think Ranger uses quality parts and does a good job on shaft alignment for them to last this long. I'm having no symptoms but am concerned about the age as well. I'm disconnecting the shaft to work on the engine, so I'm going to do it this year.

Replaced it in October.

 

[mjuzenas]

And how was it's condition? What it hard to replace? It would be good to get a data point at 1900 hours. 🙂

Cheers,

Mike

 

[Trisailor]

Replaced mine twice. First time was due to damage incurred by catching polypro anchor line in the prop that was abandoned near the dock by unknown fisherman. That provided a fun adventure at the dock; 6 am, cold water when beginning a trip toward Catalina. Boat was 4 years old with low operating hours. Second time was this last year with approximately 600 operating hours (4 years bearing age), post 1400 mile loop cruise. Rubber splines of bearing were starting to show cracking/deterioration. They had to use a sawzall to cut the bearing shell so it could be pulled out of the shaft log/keel. Used the shaft removal/inspection to also replace the stuffing box hose. Discovered that the hose on stuffing box was six ply rubber hose (fuel or intake), vice the 10 ply recommended 2.5 inch hose. I think/guess hose was previously replaced as part of engine replacement by original owner/Yanmar after engine failure for oil line failure. There was a recall on 2011 engines for rigid external oil lines that cracked. My 2011 R27 has a 2013 4BY2-180 engine installed. There are several posts way back on this forum that talk about the oil line recall. Rigid line was replaced by flexible hose.