Awoke full of inspiration. We did not have water lapping at the boat so the river was seemingly past its peak and Today I would finally get to re shaft the boat and have her ready for lift in. I had spent an hour last night filing the new key ways to fit the shaft but had to first drill a dimple for the clamp grub screw. Big chief Si had told me this was all that was necessary, the old shaft had been drilled and tapped but he insisted this was actually bad practise. He lent me a tungsten 10mm drill and after 20 mins, the dimple was done but it was seriously hard steel. I did not enjoy it. Lancing had refused to drill it for me despite me giving them exact measurements and as with the prop nut they indicated it had to be done in position.
Mid morning I was ready to fit the shaft. I stuck a finger in the transmission output shaft just as a final check. Bugger Bugger Bugger, gear box oil on my finger. I was aware of a potential leak after Smeds and I visited early march but on our return I had checked it and all seemed fine. I had rotated the gearbox by hand a few revolutions last week and found no seepage. But now definitely a dribble of oil.
I decided it was definitely coming down the splines of the shaft through the nut and not from a broken seal so needed to remove the nut and replace with some thread sealer. oh oh its a 43mm socket required.
I seek Big Si who is up to his neck in water issues. He drops everything and comes and has a look at the problem. He finds a 44mm socket after much searching and tells me it will take a lot of turning as its a very fine thread to enable a tight fitting. I am nervous of the 1mm size difference and potential damage to the nut and or thread. It takes ages but I eventually get the nut off. Apply sealant and attempt to replace. With the nut just a few turns on, it locks tight. I am unable to move it. Damn have I cross threaded it? Disaster! Disconsolate, I trundle over to the ever patient chief. Best I come and have a look, sounds like trouble. be there in a couple of minutes. By the time he arrives I have managed to remove the nut. Thank god the thread is ok. I had applied too much sealer and it had locked up the nylock end of the nut. big phew from me. He oversees as I spend next 15 minutes getting the nut back on and torqued. I am shattered.It was just so stiff as they say!
It is now suddenly mid afternoon and Big Si tells me to turn the gearbox a few times and wait til the morrow to check it before fitting the new shaft.
I move on to fitting the cutlass bearing. Bit of soapy water and a very gentle push and she slips straight in. Is that right? too easy? Si was the call. He confirms it can sometimes be easy. I mark the bearing and drill dimples and the cutlass is fitted in just 15 minutes. Ah the tide has turned I consider. At last something has gone straightforward.
With renewed vigour its time to fit the stern gland rubber hose and stuffing box. I cut the new packing strips to length and fit the hose. It is immediately evident that with new hose I cannot fit the shaft clamp and coupling, I had removed the old hose to enable me to remove them previously. I reduce the length of this £26 110mm lenth of rubber. It broke my frugal heart, still with 4 jubilees eventually tightened on and three skinned knuckles, it was done. Thats enough for the day I concluded and am happy to retire to Doucettes bar for sustenance. Collette who has busied herself all day on boat chores offers support and consolation on my woes but still later I drift off with echoes of Bri, smeds, jezzer and Fred lamenting "always a bloody drama" haranging my peace.
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