Hi Josh,
Don't sweat the small stuff. It doesn't matter a
wit if the cutlass bearing overhangs the strut by
an 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 or is flush. Zero, nada.
I would centre the difference for ascetics reason and call it a day.
Interestingly I had this situation on Sweet (in
the ol' days) and there was no interference in
the fit. It didn't require thermal difference or
a press-fit, simply relying on a set screw.
To backup the set screw a simple centre punch to
raise a dimple fore & aft in the exposed ends can
keep it from "walking out" of the strut.
Cheers, Russ
Vancouver Island
At 09:08 PM 7/8/2020, you wrote:
Well it seems that maybe the previous owner has
replaced the shaft with a larger size. A few
other 37+ owners have stated that their shafts
are 1-1/8th whereas mine is 1-1/4. The
original shaft would have come with a strut
which would accommodate a bearing OD of 1-5/8
inch (1-1/8 x 1-5/8 x 4-1/2). The smallest
bearing OD for my larger 1-1/4 shaft is 1-3/4
(1-1/4 x 1-3/4 x 5). It appears that the PO
must have run into a similar problem with this
combination of original strut and larger shaft
and must have had the bearing turned down to 1-5/8 OD.
Now for my next question. After the machinist
turned the bearing, he failed to cut it to a
length of 4-1/2.  The result is a bearing
which is 1/2 inch too long for the strut. I
can split the difference and leave 1/4 inch
sticking out on either side of the strut. Or
some other fraction forward and aft. Currently
I have about 1/8th forward and 3/8th aft. I'm
not sure if this is good, bad, or indifferent
and I'd like to get everyone's thoughts. Cut
it off? Leave it? Move it flush on one side or the other?
Thanks,
Josh MuckleyÂ
S/V Sea HawkÂ
1989 C&C 37+
Solomons, MD
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