How do I replace the cutless bearing on a Hallberg-Rassy 34?

You can replace the cutless bearing on your Hallberg-Rassy 34 without removing the propeller shaft by using a dedicated bearing puller tool. The job involves removing the propeller, extracting the hidden grub screws in the P-bracket, and pressing the old bearing out over the shaft before sliding the new one in.

Sizing and Spares

Hallberg-Rassy 34s built between 1990 and 2005 have either a 25mm or 30mm stainless steel shaft. This depends on whether the boat was fitted with the earlier Volvo Penta 2003 or the later MD2030 engine. Before ordering parts, measure your shaft diameter and the outside diameter of the P-bracket housing using digital calipers.

Common cutless bearing sizes for the HR 34 are:

• For a 25mm shaft: 25mm inner diameter by 38.1mm outside diameter by 100mm length.
• For a 30mm shaft: 30mm inner diameter by 44.45mm outside diameter by 120mm length.

Purchase a brass-shelled bearing lined with nitrile rubber from a reputable brand like Vetus or Countrose. Expect to pay between £40 and £60 for the replacement.

Propeller and Grub Screws

Start by removing the split pin and propeller nut. Use a heavy three-jaw puller to pop the bronze propeller off the shaft taper. With the shaft exposed, locate the grub screws locking the cutless bearing inside the P-bracket.

These screws hide beneath layers of old antifouling paint. Scrape the sides of the bronze P-bracket bare until you find them. There are usually two screws, one on each side. Dig out any filler from the heads and remove them using a high-quality 4mm or 5mm Allen key. If they seize, apply a quick blast of heat from a butane torch to break the corrosion. Keep the flame directed strictly away from the GRP hull directly above.

Pressing Out the Old Bearing

Do not hammer the old bearing out. The impact can easily fracture the GRP matrix where the P-bracket bonds into the hull. Instead, press it out backwards over the shaft.

You can buy a bespoke mechanical puller, but a homemade tool works just as well and costs a fraction of the price. You will need:

• A length of steel pipe with an internal diameter slightly larger than your P-bracket to act as the receiver.
• A smaller piece of steel pipe to act as the pusher, split down the middle so it fits around the shaft.
• Two heavy steel plates drilled to accept threaded rods.
• Two lengths of M10 or M12 threaded rod with matching nuts and heavy washers.