Prop shaft P bracket query

[geoffwchew]

the P bracket supporting my prop shaft (sailboat, 30 hp aux motor, 1 inch dia shaft)) is slightly bent causing shaft misalignment and rapid cutlass bearing wear. It is a slim bronze casting. Can it be straightened by applying heat (how much) and bending it back or is it likely to fracture? In other words is it malleable or brittle?

 

[QC]

Re: Prop shaft P bracket query

Hey Geoff, welcome aboard!!!

I moved this over to the Inboard engine section. There is not a whole lot of inboard experience here, but we'll get the best chance of some help over here I think. I added the word "strut" to your title to see if that helped. I actually have two of them sitting in my garage right now and I need to punch a new cutlass bearing into one of them. What I am not is a metallurgist, so I am not clear on the tweakiness of bronze. Maybe we'll both learn something . . . Good luck!

 

[Don S]

Re: Prop shaft P bracket query

If they aren't bent too much, you may get away with bending them on the boat, depending on their size of course.
Most times, I just remove them and send them to our local Prop shop where the straighten it and install a new cutlass bearing.
Then I reinstall it on the boat. You may have to shim or otherwise adjust the mounting on the boat necessary.