V-drive & Prop shaft maintanence??

[customfab]

I've got a 2001 2300V limited. Got a few questions.

My boat has significant vibration when I'm gunning it out of the hole. I noticed last night that the prop was somewhat difficult to spin (not free spinning, takes two hands to rotate it). It actually squeaks when I'm spinning it and noticed the squeaking sound was coming from the prop shaft support bushing (cutless bearing) within the strut. Is this typical? Some binding within the bushing when not wet or in water?

Outside of the rubber bearing on the strut, are there seals that must be maintained and replaced annually?

[da.bell]

How much water are you getting in the boat when the boat is running? Did you hit anything with the prop?

[dingleberry]

...I noticed last night that the prop was somewhat difficult to spin (not free spinning, takes two hands to rotate it). It actually squeaks when I'm spinning it and noticed the squeaking sound was coming from the prop shaft support bushing (cutless bearing) within the strut. Is this typical?

I think this is normal (at least I hope so, because mine does the same). This is also why you don't want to put your boat in gear if you run it on fake-a-lake. The water helps lubricate that bearing.

Sorry, I'm no help with the vibration issue.

[customfab]

Thanks guys. I haven't hit anything. Just not familiar with V-drives (recently bought boat) and have noticed the vibration during hole shot.

I did clean up and grind the edges of the existing prop when I purchased it. I barely removed any material but am thinking this may be causing the vibrations. Not quite sure how sensitive our boats are to props & misbalancing.

[MoneyPity]

I have a vibration that I am trying to figure out on my 20V. Mine occurs at low rpms at no wake speeds. I have noticed it at 1200 rpm but above that the vibration goes away. It is more of a sound verses a vibration you can feel.

Next trip I will have swapped original prop with spare but I don't think that will fix.

[dogbert]

It sounds like you have a prop shaft alignment issue or some sort of prop issue. I'd have a dealer check the prop shaft to make sure it's not bent and that your prop is in good shape. There should be no vibrations whatsoever.

[da.bell]

Doesn't take much to unbalance a prop. But I agree with dog... Either take it to the dealer or purchase a new prop and see what happens.

[solaidrider667]

I just had my boat repaired and there is way more tension on the shaft bearing(cutlass bearing) than before. Where I used to be able to turn the prop out of water by one hand appx medium force it now takes two hands medium+ force. So tight in fact the cutlas bearing spun about 15 minutes(forgive the measurement) inside the shaft strut during my post repair water test. There is a noticable gap at the upper side of the shaft to cutlas bearing and the rubber on the lower side is being sqeezed out. I am sure its an alignment issue and will be taking the boat back today to be re-fixxed.
****can you spin your prop by hand easily when out of the water?

BTW--no more torque steer!! The new rudder/prop combo is super smooth--I hope it will still be so after the cutlas bearing issue is solved

[dogbert]

****can you spin your prop by hand easily when out of the water?

I've never been able to spin my prop by hand out of the water.