R25 2007 Cutlass Bearing

[doke01]

Hi Factory,

Do you know the size for the 2007 R25 cutlass bearing? How often should they be changed? I have no play in mine, but it is 18 years old now.

Doug

 

[Jared Dunning]

Are you referring to the packing gland (also known as the stuffing box)? When a cutlass bearing wears out, it typically results in shaft play, not water intrusion. How often the packing needs attention depends on how much water is coming in while the boat is running. Normally, you want no drips when the boat is at rest and about one drip every five seconds when running. Tightening the packing nut is how you control that drip rate. If you’re seeing water dripping while the boat is at rest and there’s no adjustment left on the packing nut, then it’s time to consider repacking the stuffing box.

 

[doke01]

HI Jared,

No, I mean the cutlass bearing. I don't have play, but the cutlass bearing is old and I have the engine out for a rebuild and I'm thinking it is a good idea to replace it now, so I need the size.I'm pulling the prop and shaft to check it, but was hoping to know the size before I pulled the shaft.

 

[Jared Dunning]

Unfortunately, I don’t have the size for that bearing. We used multiple sizes over the years.

 

[doke01]

Thanks, Jared. Once I get it out I'll let you know the size. It might help someone else.

 

[doke01]

Hi Jared,
Cutless bearing on a 2007 R-25 is 5"x1.75" (OD)x1.25" (ID). Do you know if the cutless bearing was glued or fiberglassed in? Should I just be able to pull it out is my main question? I know it's tight but I'm cutting along the inside of the old one to loosen it and need to know if I need to use a heat gun or other method in addition to just pulling it.

 

[doke01]

It was not fiber glassed in but was an adventure to take out. Remove the transmission (even then couldn't pull the shaft from the inside, but enough to get it 95% out of the cutless bearing, the rudder was in the way on the other side), pulled the prop, cut the bearing with a sawsall, bent a piece on the end and used the shaft to start pushing it out. Once it got half way the shaft pushed through the bent brass, so pulled it back and drilled a hole in the cutless bearing and put a bolt through it. The shaft pushed it right out after that. Fun, and it only took 2 hours to remove, which I hear is good for cutless bearings.