Vdrive shaft removal. Any tips on getting it done?

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-12-2007, 9:51 AM

The woodruff key on my drive shaft has sheared and i have no drive.

To remove my shaft i need to the coupling flange from the V drive output. The 4 bolts that hold it on are a little rusty but the biggest problem is the lack of space and the fact i can't actually see what I'm doing seeing as its under the v drive unit.

Has anyone got any tips if they have done this before?

(99_slaunch) · (99_slaunch) **Join Date: Oct 2005** 08-12-2007, 10:08 AM

A small inspection mirror might help.

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-12-2007, 10:18 AM

Yeah done that. I can see the coupling that way which at least gives me an idea of what I'm workin with but there just isn't any room to work.

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-12-2007, 11:39 AM

I'm going to see if i can just get a nut splitter on them tomorrow. I reckon it might just be easier to split the nut and replace the nut/bolt with stainless ones when i refit it.

(olskooltige) · (olskooltige) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 08-12-2007, 4:34 PM

Getting the bolts out is the easy part. Getting the trans flange coupler to seperate is where the fun is.

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-12-2007, 11:54 PM

Aggghhhhh! Will they be stuck then? The shaft has a brass coupler and the drive flange is steel. If the shaft coupler was steel i probably would have just welded the shaft to the coupler and sod al the messing about!

(olskooltige) · (olskooltige) **Join Date: Mar 2007** 08-16-2007, 8:13 AM

Don't know if it will be stuck, but Murphy's law almost guarantees it will. Mine was aluminum and steel and they were seized. I had to use a prybar to "persuade" them to separate. You can see pics from when I did my shaft seal install here.
http://www.wakeboatworld.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemi d=35

Only problem with welding would be what to do when it came time to take it all apart again

(Message edited by olskooltige on August 16, 2007)

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-17-2007, 5:09 AM

Well I have my new nut splitters now so will be attacking it over the weekend.

Fingers crossed I can get it apart!

(jayc) · (jayc) **Join Date: Sep 2002** 08-20-2007, 9:09 AM

Well I got the shaft off without any further problems. After soaking in wd40 for a week the nuts came off easily and the coupler came away without any problems too.

Damn the shaft is long though. Its nearly twice the length of the 2 mastercraft 190 shafts i have in my garage.

Problem now is while i was under the boat getting the shaft i noticed some cracks around the strut bracket. Further investigation proves that this needs to be tackled asap so the engine is coming out at the weekend and the glass around the strut will be reinforced and re gel'd.