Originally Posted by
cadunkle
Shaft is probably bent, and likely the strut as well. Check around the strut mount for cracking inside and out. You can remove the shaft and roll on a flat surface to get an idea if it's bent but best to put it in a lathe and check runout witha dial indicator. You can do similar with two wood blocks with a V cut in them, spin the shaft and check with a dial indicator. Not as accurate but if it's bent bad you'll know. Mine had either .002" or .003" runout when I was checking it for a vibration. Alignment fixed it, no prob with runout.
Strut if not mangled too bad can probably be bent back to straght. Maybe some heat to assist. With new bushings and a straight shaft it should rest about in the center of the log at neutral position in the cutlass bearings.