Change the strut of 01 SAN

[richard]

I'm wondering if some one can advise me their actual experience to change the strut of a 216 Nautique Vdrive boat w/o moving the engine since the nuts of the strut are under the engineand seems not reachable ,it seems too big job for changing the four screws strut. more,is possible to reshape a little bit bend strut ?

[skinautique]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

a 216 is a direct drive boat. Getting to that strut is no big deal. If you are wanting to change it on a SAN, you need to remove the side panels on the engine and then reach underneath with a 9/16 socket and have a second person under the boat with a Phillips screwdriver. Most struts can be reconditioned

[richard]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

Skinautique:
Thank you for the advice,I happy to hear your anwser since all the tecnician I talk here think need remove the engine to change the strut, I will try your way as I think so.

[skinautique]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

It still isn't easy to get to but a lot easier than removing the engine and re installing it.

[DanielC]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

Richard, I have successfully rebent (straightned) a tweaked strut on a "M" boat. I used a bent propshaft to clear the rudder. Be sure to check propshaft alignment when you are done. I also have changed a couple of struts, I can give you some insight on how I did that, if you need.

[richard]

Change the strut of 01 SAN

DanielC
Your M boat are V-Drive? I'm appreciate If you wpou;d tell me how to atraighten a bent strut, (about 5mm off from vertical).

[DanielC]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

Richard, The Boat I straightened the strut on was a direct drive, but the same idea applies to a v-drive. The prop shaft was removed, and another used bent prop shaft was put into the prop shaft bearing in the strut, on the boat. I then pulled the shaft, (and the strut) in the direction I wanted it to go. The strut on the boat I was working on was bent to port (left) and I pulled it right, until the prop shaft pointed to the center of the transmission coupler. The boat I was working on was not a Nautique, and the strut was thinner, and easier to bend, and bend back. A vertical bend is much more difficult to remove than a sideways bend, and this technique may not work, but it is worth a try. Do not use a good prop shaft to pry on the strut, you may not be able to get the strut all the way straight, and bend the good prop shaft in the process.

[richard]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

DanieIC
you straight the strut w/o remove it,right? I'm very happy if iI can do like that.
may be I can't do it like your way, since the strut of Nautique looks strong and looks made of the metal same as propeller,(hard and crisp),I think I need take it out and hammer it with fire up the temperature. or just use a big size pipe wrench to bent it under the boat to traight it,this is most convinien, If my thinking is wrong ,I would like to hear other opinion.

[DanielC]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

Richard, Yes, I did straighten the bent strut on the boat. It was only bent a little, the prop shaft at the trans end only went about an inch to the right, when I disconnected it. Do not heat the strut. You could damage the boat, or the bearing in the bottom of the strut. I also do not know what will happen to the metal if is is heated and allowed to cool. You could make it very brittle, or too soft. Either condition is not good. If the strut breaks when you are at any reasonable speed, the prop shaft could swing around and do all sorts of major damage to the bottom of your boat. If the strut is bent too much to straighten with a fairly strong pull, I recommend you get a new strut.

[richard]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

DanielC
Change a new strut is a big deal for small funtion,how ever the boat can use normal and don't feel any thing wrong,my targe is to make loose the shaft because 5mm coupler off set when check,If there have alternation,I become a fool to order a new strut over thousand miles,pay expensive and,remove the engine and set it back,and than get more truble may be.

[richard]

Change the strut of 01 SAN

Recived the strut from DIM recently,
Changed it today ,used about 1 hour w/my friend help,
Much easier than thought,(no need remove engine)
Use 3M 4200 marine adhisive sealent,
Thanks for friends had advise post here,
Now the prop. can turn by hand as normal, (easy)
The photo shows the blended strut after hit stones, prop and shaft had changed before.
:grin:

[wakejunky]

RE: Change the strut of 01 SAN

At least it was only bent to the one side.... ; ) Glad to see that you didn't find this too difficult and not let anybody tell you that it required an engine removal.
You were better off with a new replacement than trying to bend it back. You'd rather have something that is going to be dead on, then you don't have to do the job twice.

Chris