Best Cutlass Bearing

[a64pilot]

Last haul out I replaced the Cutlass, where I was at ordered it, I wasn’t impressed, it was obviously brass and I’m not real impressed with brass.
So I feel I need to carry my own from now on, I figured Buck Algonquin would be a good one, but guess they don’t make one? So who does make a good quality Cutlass preferably Bronze if possible, and is Nitrile a better bearing?

[Dsanduril]

Personally (YMMV) I prefer the non-metallic cutlass bearings by Countrose and others. They make bearings with phenolic or GRP shells and nitrile or polyurethane lining.

I've used the phenolic/poly ones and liked them. Have heard stories about phenolic swelling underwater, but have never observed it. And if you have to cut the bearing out phenolic is a whole lot easier than brass or bronze.

[a64pilot]

Yeah, just my bearing is a little loose fitting and I don’t use Epoxy, I drill the bearing shells a little and tighten the set screws into the drill spot, this holds them and keeps them from rotating, not sure I could do that with plastic.

[Dsanduril]

All the metal shells of which I am aware are brass, don't know of any bronze. You can at least get naval brass from some vendors, others are not specific as to brass composition.

[a64pilot]

Naval brass is I believe Bronze or very close to bronze, I think it machines better but in salt water performs very similar to bronze.
In other words I think it’s good stuff, and it may also be called red brass, but it doesn’t have that bright yellow appearance that regular brass does.

On edit, it’s not close to bronze composition but performs well enough for something that isn’t expected to have an infinite life.
The red brass that’s 85%, 5, 5 and 5 is I think close to bronze.

[Dsanduril]

Naval brass still has a significant portion of zinc, but also has tin to reduce the chances of corrosion and dezincification underwater.

Johnson, for one, is specific about using naval brass shells (and they come down on the "cutless" side of the debate).

[a64pilot]

Silly as it sounds but Cutlass is I believe a registered trademark, and as such there is only one Cutless manufacturer, so I use Cutlass, which I know is a sword, but it’s also what I believe all others shaft bearings are called.

I’m all honestly, I have considered trying to find a white Metal one to install, grease it regularly and never change it again.

[kmacdonald]

Morse and Johnson are the two I know of. Both are good. My shaft tube is oversized so a cutlass bearing must have spun in it at some point. You can epoxy them in in a case like that and either heat them up with real hot water to remove or use a reamer and cut them out. They are very stable when epoxued in. They last a very long time if your engine is aligned correctly.

[wsmurdoch]

As far as the cutless trademark, it is Duramax.

TESS -- Error

Duramax Marine is Johnson.

https://www.duramaxmarine.com/bearing.htm

The bearings cut the shaft less than lignum vite bearings.

https://www.followingseas.media/blog...that-bearing-1

Anyway, all that matches the story I was told.

Bill

[mlydon]

Its a wear item, not an heirloom. The duramaxx last just fine insalt water. Iv pulled them where the rubber is worn smooth, shell is still just fine.... Wouldnt lose sleep over it.

Matt

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by mlydon

Its a wear item, not an heirloom. The duramaxx last just fine insalt water. Iv pulled them where the rubber is worn smooth, shell is still just fine.... Wouldnt lose sleep over it.

Matt

My experience too. Plenty of better things to worry about!

Jim