A25 Cutless replacement

[Sunsetrider]

Although I faded away from here over the winter months, some of you might recall my distress in the fall over the unseemly racket shivering my timbers on my final run to the storage marina. There was speculation (Desert Albin for one) that my engine mounts might be at fault, but I checked those with a pry bar and all seemed secure.

Turns out - upon inspection by our local highly regarded roving marine mechanic - that the cutless bearing was at fault. So he is now attending to its replacement and I have high hopes that my engine racket generally will soon be reduced to a more tolerable level. Right now it's apart awaiting the replacement bearing. I am excited about this!

[DesertAlbin736]

Good to hear from you again Stephen! So what became of the trawler you were looking at? Or are you sticking with A25 after all? Wish you could have been with us & WillieC last year in Desolation Sound. Was awesome! Hope a new cutlass bearing solves the problem. We're heading back up to B.C. in a couple weeks for another summer in the Gulf Islands & San Juans.

[Dieselram94]

What size shaft are you running?

[Sunsetrider]

So what became of the trawler you were looking at? Or are you sticking with A25 after all?

That deal fell through when the boat was unable to start at the sea trial day, it having run dry and unable to prime. The owners just put it away for the winter. It's back on for sale this week, but I can't sell the Manatee until I get the shaft fixed. I might keep it for the summer at least, especially if it is running quieter.

[Sunsetrider]

My mechanic is trying to source the bearing overseas. Apparently it being metric and mushroom shaped at the end means he can't find it here. Has anyone run into this problem?

[WillieC]

Absolutely. It is a very specific bearing and is best sourced, possibly only sourced, through Albinmotor in Sweden. The problem is that it is self-centering, with the 'mushroom' under the rubber sleeve. All regular cutlass bearings are rigidly fixed to the holder. Ours are held in place by the outer cupped half that snugs the mushroom in the socket. This floating arrangement lets it self center. Actually quite clever, and fortunately still available.

IIRC you have the MD17C, like we do, and probably have a 30 mm shaft. Easy peasy. Fork it over and be done.

Here is the link. I find the website hard to navigate.
https://albinmotor.se/komplett-prislist ... ed-d-48-12

You need to scroll down about 1000 pages or:

Search for 7602000...well that worked but then it didn't. Try entering in the search box 760. A ways down on that screen you will see Outer rod bearing 30mm. Maybe.

Hope this helps.

[Sunsetrider]

Thanks WIllieC - I will delve into the site and find it! The part number will be a great help.

edit: found it!

[NickScheuer]

Am printing a hard copy to put in my engine manual 3-ring binder, just in case I can't find WillieC's post above, if and when I need it.

[hetek]

I just want to warn you and your mechanic... What you will get will not be what you have currently. Fear not!

I bought one last year from Albinmotor and was surprised to see an all-composite tube with the rubber donut, instead of the bronze sleeve with composite lining and the rubber donut. It will be fine though.

I think of it this way... Composite technology is so advanced now that it is unnecessary to need a bronze tube to support it. At least that's what I tell myself.

This is what you'll get:

20180726_193118.jpg

[WillieC]

Ha! I thought I got snookered when the package arrived from Sweden. It didn't weigh anything. I didn't open it for several hours, thinking how in the heck do I send this back?
Then I did my best braille investigation and figured well it sure feels like a cutlass bearing, then I opened it and thought WTH!! It's a piece of wood with a rubber donut over it! (I live a very sheltered life and have not been exposed to composite materials which the thing is really made of. Sure looks like a hunk of wood at first blush.)
Albinmotor also stocks other sizes. If anyone finds a clever person who knows how to set up a lathe for composite stock and hunts down a source for rubber sleeves, you'd have something! For maybe ten people... I support Albinmotor. Who knows I may end up with an AD21 someday and REALLY need parts.

[hetek]

Ha! It does look like wood, doesn't it?

Look closer and you can see the layers of, I'm guessing, fiberglass. Maybe Kevlar? And it's not just wrapped 'round and 'round, but rather all wavey like. Very impressive, to me at least.

Smells like Bakelite, like when you stuck your nose up to the cooling vents in your old tube radio.

Sorry for all the technical talk. I must have sniffed too many tube radios.

[DesertAlbin736]

Smells like Bakelite, like when you stuck your nose up to the cooling vents in your old tube radio.

Love you guys! Only an Albin boater would get off on sniffing cutlass bearings & the innards of old vacuum tube radios.

I love the smell of Bakelite in the morning. Smells like.....Victory!

kilgore-apocalypse-now.jpg

[Sunsetrider]

So delighted with these remarks that mean my precious will actually get put back together!

[Sunsetrider]

And henceforth run in stealth mode. Right?

[WillieC]

Where are you on the propeller shaft/engine alignment? And have you had it checked for true? Mine is a bit out and still drives us mildly crazy, but NOTHING like when we bought it.
Stealth mode? MD17C? Roight!