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05-30-2017, 05:59 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Conundrum
Vessel Model: Nordlund 63' Pilothouse
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 320
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Shafts/props not spinning during survey - 02 Jefferson
I was tagging along to a survey and sea trial with a friend of mine interested in a 2002 Jefferson pilothouse. Twin Cummins 450C engines. During survey the surveyor couldn't spin the props at all. Neither would move and inch. Multiple people mentioned they had never seen this.
Theories ranged from fishing line fouling the bearings, the bearings were installed with petroleum jelly so they are all swelled up, to a weird transmission issue that locks the shafts when engines are not running. We splashed it and went on the sea trial and the stb engine was vibrating noticeably more than the port. An obvious physical vibration. Potentially related to the shaft issue on that side.
BUT... both port and stb exhibit the same behavior...no ability to spin freely even when the surveyor went into the engine room and tried with a 2.5' crow bar. This told us that both sides experienced same event or sequence of consequences to get the shafts into this state.
Any ideas or anyone that has seen both shafts completely lock up while not underway? other than the vibration on the stb while underway there isn't anything obvious including the cutlass bearings looking ok.
Thanks in advance!
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05-30-2017, 07:03 PM
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#2
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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Could be swelled bearings or bad misalignment. Neither are good. Have it sorted before buying. Both the shaft binding and vibration issue. Should be able to rotate prop shaft by hand at the coupling, worst case rotate with a wrench with minimal effort.
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05-30-2017, 07:15 PM
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#3
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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Most likely alignment in my opinion.
Could be the whole drive line needs to be looked at.
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05-30-2017, 07:44 PM
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#4
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TF Site Team
City: Saltspring Island
Vessel Name: Retreat
Vessel Model: C&L 44
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 5,656
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In 94 I bought my boat with props that I couldn't turn by hand. 3000 hrs at that point. Invoices in hand showing $$ spend on re-alignment of both engines.
In 2014 the shafts had well over 6000 hrs and still wouldn't turn by hand. I threw $$ at it and since then have been able to turn the props by hand.
If any different, my fuel consumption has gone up a touch??? What effect did the tight shafts have if not to effect fuel consumption?
Yes, the cutless bearings were worn, so eventually I would have needed to change them out, but urgency was not part of the equation.
YMMV
__________________
Keith
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05-30-2017, 08:05 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Conundrum
Vessel Model: Nordlund 63' Pilothouse
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 320
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Quote:
Originally Posted by koliver
If any different, my fuel consumption has gone up a touch??? What effect did the tight shafts have if not to effect fuel consumption?
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This is a great question and I suppose a follow up. What's the real effect/danger of such a condition? Fuel efficiency yes. But also perhaps further damage to the power train which would cost more to repair down the road?
thanks for the reply...good perspective.
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05-30-2017, 08:55 PM
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#6
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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Do not put a pipe wrench on the shafts! You will regret it...
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Don't believe everything that you think.
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05-30-2017, 09:00 PM
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#7
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Guru
City: Brookline, NH
Vessel Name: Shalloway
Vessel Model: Defever 44, twin Perkins
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 2,259
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To me the biggest problem is that you don't know what's wrong but it definitely should not be like that. Could be severe misalignment or bent shafts, bent struts or maybe even transmission problems. Running it like that can't be good and likely will do more damage.
Ken
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05-30-2017, 11:44 PM
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#8
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Guru
City: Sarasota/Ft. Lauderdale
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,438
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I can't imagine fuel consumption going up after correctly aligning shafts. But stranger things have happened.
The first thing to do would be to break the couplers apart and see if the shafts spin freely after than.
If not then it's time to look elsewhere for the problem.
Severe misalignment wastes fuel, puts stress on the shaft coupler and transmission seals, causes early strut bearing wear, can cause the shafts to wear at the point they ride on the bearings, etc., etc.
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05-31-2017, 12:57 AM
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#9
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Guru
City: Pender Harbour, BC
Vessel Name: Gwaii Haanas
Vessel Model: Custom Aluminum 52
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,791
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How big are the wheels and shafts? I cant turn mine without a wrench, 36" wheel, 2.5" shaft.
__________________
Don't believe everything that you think.
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05-31-2017, 07:00 AM
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#10
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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Big shafts and props are going to be harder to turn just due to the weight on the bearings. For a 36" wheel and 2.5" shaft a wrench will definitely be needed even with all being right. And yes, no pipe wrenches. Use a wrench on a coupling bolt or use a strap wrench on the shaft.
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05-31-2017, 07:18 AM
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#11
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
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packing too tight and dried out from lack of use? Big props and shafts can be tough to turn. any easier after the sea trial?
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05-31-2017, 07:33 AM
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#12
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Guru
City: LI or Fla
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,148
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I would also say this sounds like alignment, could ask the yard to detach the coupler from the transmission and see what that shows, also vibration can be caused by alignment, which could be simple or could be bent struts,shafts... If you have two struts per side then alignment is more critical.
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05-31-2017, 07:51 AM
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#13
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Guru
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,178
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When the boat is on the hard the hull distorts some. But it would seem to need to move a tremendous amount to buying the shafts. While on the hard I was able to turn my two inch shafts by pushing on the propeller
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05-31-2017, 02:18 PM
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#14
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Guru
City: Victoria TX
Vessel Name: Bijou
Vessel Model: 2008 Island Packet PY/SP
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 5,290
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What happens if you put a pipe wrench on your shaft? Asking for a friend. [emoji6]
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05-31-2017, 02:47 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
City: Seattle
Vessel Name: Conundrum
Vessel Model: Nordlund 63' Pilothouse
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 320
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bayview
packing too tight and dried out from lack of use? Big props and shafts can be tough to turn. any easier after the sea trial?
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Didn't get easier after the sea trial. Pulled into the slip and the surveyor got a 2.5' crowbar and couldn't move either an inch.
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05-31-2017, 03:34 PM
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#16
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Guru
City: Fort Pierce
Vessel Name: Florita Ann
Vessel Model: 1982 Present
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 1,935
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How about seizing, binding clutches?
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05-31-2017, 03:34 PM
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#17
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Guru
City: gulf coast
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 3,440
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Only thing to do is have engine and shafts aligned and see what cause is found. Alignment is not a big deal if nothing serious is found.
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05-31-2017, 03:58 PM
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#18
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Technical Guru
City: Wilmington, NC
Vessel Name: Louisa
Vessel Model: Custom Built 38
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 6,194
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mule
How about seizing, binding clutches?
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Can happen. But shaft will start rolling as soon as you crank the engine.
My vote is for swollen rubber on the shaft bearings.
Alignment would have to be WAY off to cause that much binding.
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05-31-2017, 04:10 PM
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#19
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Guru
City: Adelaide
Vessel Name: Kokanee
Vessel Model: Cuddles 30 Pilot House Motor Sailer
Join Date: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,218
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ski in NC
Can happen. But shaft will start rolling as soon as you crank the engine.
My vote is for swollen rubber on the shaft bearings.
Alignment would have to be WAY off to cause that much binding.
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I'd agree. Depending on the setup, it may be easily checked by loosening the bearing housing, allowing entire bearing assembly to turn, and then checking ease of rotation.
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05-31-2017, 04:20 PM
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#20
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TF Site Team
City: Jacksonville
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 11,670
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I take it there was no out of the water part of the survey?
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