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View Full Version : Cracked Drive Shaft (photo included)


89supracomp
05-22-2011, 03:17 PM
Last time I had my boat out, I noticed it had a vibration issue. I visually inspected the prop and it looked fine so i decided it must be the strut bushings. Ordered new bushings, pulled prop and there it was, a crack in the drive shaft almost all the way around.

I didn't remember ever hitting anything, but decided to go ahead and take the prop to the prop shop and have it checked. He said it was fine. Looking at the crack, you can tell it has been there for a while, it just recently got bad enough to cause a vibration issue.

My question is, what are my options? A new drive shaft is over $300 bucks. Has anyone ever had a driveshaft made or repaired or am I gonna have to just bite the bullet and order a new shaft?
:confused:


http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/cadillacgrill/crackedshaft.jpg
wotan2525
05-22-2011, 03:29 PM
Very strange! Your prop shop can't fix it? I would bet a machine shop can.
89supracomp
05-22-2011, 03:44 PM
I don't know? I will make some phone calls tomorrow.
cadunkle
05-22-2011, 06:37 PM
A good shop might be able to weld that and machine it true. Personally I'd spend the couple hundred bucks for a new shaft and have peace of mind.
docdrs
05-22-2011, 08:39 PM
I would put a new shaft in. It will cost a lot more if the repair fails you could lose your prop mess up your rudder damage your fibrglass. Did you check your alignment?
jet
05-23-2011, 11:14 AM
DO NOT USE THAT SHAFT! ITS DONE. If you use it, It will crack and drop off into the water and then your out a prop also, $300+$300=$600!! I had my shaft crack and the prop fell of..NOT FUN. The shaft had a hair line crack in that you could not see and I lost both. You can take your demisions and shop around to NON-BOAT places and get it made cheaper. I think my last shaft cost me $125?? A place that makes axles might make one for you. Jet
Memmer99
05-23-2011, 01:46 PM
I have a new shaft sitting in my garage I'll sell you for 200. Let me know if you're interested.
jet
05-23-2011, 04:21 PM
DING..DING..DING..Can you say "JUMP ON IT"!! And thank you for playing today. lol
wotan2525
05-23-2011, 04:51 PM
DO NOT USE THAT SHAFT! ITS DONE. If you use it, It will crack and drop off into the water and then your out a prop also, $300+$300=$600!! I had my shaft crack and the prop fell of..NOT FUN. The shaft had a hair line crack in that you could not see and I lost both. You can take your demisions and shop around to NON-BOAT places and get it made cheaper. I think my last shaft cost me $125?? A place that makes axles might make one for you. Jet

Meh -- if they can repair a crankshaft to new, they can easily repair a prop shaft.
89supracomp
05-23-2011, 09:57 PM
I have a new shaft sitting in my garage I'll sell you for 200. Let me know if you're interested.


pm sent....
Rusty
05-27-2011, 01:08 AM
Go with the replacement. Too much torque in a DS to chance a break down in the middle of the lake!
beast 496
05-27-2011, 08:37 AM
Replace, Do not even try to repair. However you can use the damaged shaft as a nice pig roaster. Al
89supracomp
05-27-2011, 10:20 PM
Replace, Do not even try to repair. However you can use the damaged shaft as a nice pig roaster. Al


LOL! good idea!
89supracomp
06-12-2011, 08:56 PM
Well, I finally got my driveshaft replaced this past week and took the boat to the lake Saturday to test it out. It ran smooth all day. Turned out to be a bigger project than I wanted it to be though.
While I had everything apart I also replaced the strut bushings, installed new GFO packing and had the prop balanced and re-surfaced.




I bought the driveshaft that Memmer99 had and it was different than the one in my boat. I knew there were different coupler diameters, but I didn't know there were different lengths?
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/cadillacgrill/boat/cid__Photo05281105.jpg



The new coupler wouldn't fit between the flange on the transmission and the packing nut.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/cadillacgrill/boat/cid__Photo05281103.jpg




So I took it to a local machine shop and had them shorten it.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/cadillacgrill/boat/cid__Photo06032047.jpg


There were alot of little things along the way that had to be addressed while getting it all put together, but I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh137/cadillacgrill/boat/cid__Photo06040004.jpg