Prop Shaft Stopped by Fishing Line

[balibob]

Thanks for reading this. I think something is straining the prop shaft (line in cutlass bearing?) after a few minutes of running on a atomic 4 that is fine in neutral..Don Moyer says not a transmission problem? I dove down and turned prop and didn't see anything on the outside of cutlass bearing or shaft tube?

[skipmac]

Have you gone into the water to inspect the shaft?

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Have you gone into the water to inspect the shaft?

Couldn't make it to the last sentence in the paragraph?

[balibob]

looked but didn't see any line..the cutlass bearing is a few inches long though..Line in the middle?? Don Moyer suggest removing the bolts from the coupling that connects shaft to engine to check and maybe move sheft back to expose area inside cutlass for fishing line? It's a 71 so may not be possible to turn the bolts. Thought of bolts on the hull for cutlass struts. Is there another possible cause for so much strain that takes a few minutes in gear load out the engine, unless I put it back in neutral right away before it stalls?? Thanks

[SkiprJohn]

When the trans is in neutral and the engine shut down, can you turn the prop shaft easily by hand?

[balibob]

In neutral the prop turns easily..I didn't try right away after running in gear to the point the strain is apparent and it stalls etc. If the problem is other than around shaft (in trans. or last bearing near coupling) it will be hard to turn as well. Has anyone heard of that bearing etc seizing when warmed up? Could it be in the shaft tube if it's not something (line) on the prop shaft in the middle of the cutlass bearing?? Thanks reading and for any help you can give

[bobconnie]

At this point you have 2 choices! One pull her out and find out what the problem is and fix it! Two, run it till it mess's up totally, then pull it out and fix it! I think if ya can get to a yard I would pull her and fix it ! Just my 2 cents

[JPA Cate]

Balibob,

Did you get a clear look at the prop? Are you certain there is no fish line there? Because if there is none, then I don't see how it could be fouling the cutlass bearing.

To your knowledge, has the ever fouled a fish line? If it has, perhaps the shaft has bent, or the engine become unaligned.

Now, something is making the engine stall after running in gear for a few minutes. Is your stuffing box too tight? So tight it heats up and seizes on the shaft? You could test that by running it in gear at the dock.

My two cents is up.

Good luck with it. Somebody who knows more than me will be along soon.

Ann

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by cal40john

Couldn't make it to the last sentence in the paragraph?

Obviously I'm not really paying close attention. In my defense I do have a really good excuse. Broke a few ribs and have been taking pain meds like popcorn. As you can it has effected my reading comprehension skills.

[balibob]

Thanks guys & girls, I did check the packing box (no heat and dripping ok). Unless someone comes along who has had the same problem. Seizing after running a few minutes in forward or reverse. Is fine if I get it back in neutral before it stalls. No heat around transmission. Prop turns easy from underwater or even by hand at coupling near trans.(tried when not seized) My plan is to feel the cutlass bearing right after it seizes for heat. If it's not warm, I'll try to take the bolts out from the shaft coupling and run the motor in gear when not turning the shaft. Problem is those bolts have been there forever! Also it's a very tight space and I will need to remove exhaust, then put it back to test! Thanks for reading and I will wait for more post before going on.

[balibob]

feel better..thanks for reading about my problem

[HopCar]

Kind of reminds me of an old gas inboard I had in High School. It would run for a few minutes until a bearing in the water pump drive would heat up and seize stopping the engine. When it cooled down the engine would run again, until it seized for good. Of course it would do that in neutral as well as forward.

I think you're on the right track. Sounds like the problem is in the drive train. I'm betting transmission but I usually guess wrong the first time. My logic is that if the problem was aft of the transmission you'd feel it when you turned the prop by hand.

I'll be interested to see what you find.

[sparrowhawk1]

Seems like the transmission to me. If right after it stalls or comes close to stalling you put it in neutral and the shaft can spin freely buy hand

[Blue Crab]

Gotta be trans. Rope will stop the engine for sure but fishing line? It would have to be a lot of it ... certainly enough to be obvious.

[Suijin]

It could be a disintegrating cutlass bearing. As you run in gear, it's not getting lubrication and is heating up, expanding, and binding. But you can turn it by hand when it's cool.

My cutlass bearing, which looked fine on visual inspection and demonstrated no play between it and the shaft, was bad when I pulled my prop shaft this winter to put in a dripless seal. Replaced it and now she runs cooler and smoother. While it was not binding, it probably would not have been long before it started to.

Do you know how old your cutlass is, or have you been able to look at it with the shaft out recently?