Beneteau First 41s5 (1989) New volvo 55 now with 150 hours. She has developed a major vibration in the driveline such that I cannot rev beyond 1500rpm. So upon investigation P bracket bearing within serviceable limits, so serious exercise of blocking off stern tube and undoing the dripless shaft seal to inspect the inner end of the stern tube as there is a fair amount of play at this end, what I find is there is no bearing at this end and certainly does not appear to be at the aft end of the tube. So current set up is support at fwd end is at the gearbox coupling direct to support at the P bracket. Questions, is this the standard setup or should there be an inner bearing? If standard the vibration has increased with engine hours, is this potentially due to engine beds settling in? Trying to do all this whilst she is in the water is quite entertaining but a great learning experience. Can anyone recommend an expert who would be experienced in Beneteau's?
I've got a 2002 Beneteau 393 with the D2-55, and it doesn't have a forward bearing for the shaft either. No problems with a vibration. If the cutless bearing checks out OK, I'd be having a close look at the prop, and rechecking the engine/shaft alignment.
One thing I have experienced is the lock-nuts on the engine mounts working loose, with the result that the engine gradually drops on that mount and becomes seriously out of alignment. Happened with two of mine, and I've found that you really need to lean on the shifter to make sure they stay locked.
Thanks for the replies, it confirms my findings of no forward bearing, I just dived again and removed the prop, 2 blade folding, and have found one tooth to be severely worn, it looks like the prop my not be opening correctly and thus throwing its thrust out of whack, I shall look at pinning it open and then give it a go. Not sure if I am able to effectively weld onto a bronze prop, from memory you are only joining with hot metal, but I shall give it a go in an attempt to fabricate a new tooth, failing that it will be a new prop, and serious boat dollars :)
You can weld bronze with TIG equipment, getting the right filler material will be the hard part. You could try silicon bronze filler rod, it should be hard enough for the job you are attempting and will be relatively easy to shape.
My thoughts exactly, silicon bronze filler rods already ordered off ebay, never tig welded silicon bronze, but as they say never too late to learn!
With TIG welding, remember that everything other than aluminium is done on DC current and use a thoriated electrode ground to a bluntish pencil point, from memory, thoriated has a brown end. Oops, nearly forgot, electrode is positive.
