Gord the Great!!! Help with Shaft saver ID

[Chief Engineer]

I have a boat with a shaft saver(?) It is not the Plastic kind, it is steel and it appears to have two bolt heads (11/16) on the drum. There is a picture of one that I see now and then on the forum.

I will try to attach a picture of it.

My question is this....other than the two square head bolts, is there anything else securing the shaft?

[senormechanico]

rust?

[Chief Engineer]

Bronze shaft

[David M]

Still the collar is steel isn't it? When iron oxidizes it expands. I would put some heat on the collar with the shaft already pre-tensioned so it wants to pull out. Then take a hammer to the collar so the vibrations (hopefully) knock it loose.

[Chief Engineer]

I have a slide hammer shaft puller for the shaft.

I don't know what the internal construction is (rubber/plastic?) so I want to avoid putting heat on it at this point......

Do you know what the hex-heads on the coupling do?

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

I have a slide hammer shaft puller for the shaft.

I don't know what the internal construction is (rubber/plastic?) so I want to avoid putting heat on it at this point......

Do you know what the hex-heads on the coupling do?

I don't think I'd be worried about that too much. I'd just replace the whole thing form the looks of it. No telling what it looks like on the inside.

Just bust it off and replace the whole thing with one that is recognizable.

[Chief Engineer]

It is a Federal Flexible Coupling....in business since 1952

When I took the last bolt out of the coupling to drive shaft "Sproing!!!!!!"

Apparently, the "mechanic" who installed the new engine never heard of alignment.

I had to cut the shaft

The shaft nearly wore though the metal of the cutlass bearing

As it ended up the shaft showed a good deal of "pink" in spots and had a 1/2" crack starting where it was in the cutlass.

[delmarrey]

Aw! Bronze shafts. Now it's time for some Aqualoy!

Western Branch Metals: Marine Propeller Shafting