2003 270 Bow Thruster

aero3113

My coworker wants to do some maintenance to his thruster but can’t pull the assembly out. He says when he slides the motor back it hits a bulkhead, no room to pull it back and out. Any ideas? Is there more he has to dissemble to remove it?

Handymans342

He needs to disconnect the coupling between yellow and gray

aero3113

@Handymans342 where do you disconnect the coupling? Yellow is loose from grey, not much room between them...

Handymans342

Thru the rectangular opening. Can you get a picture?

Handymans342

Possibly an Allen wrench 

aero3113

I told him to take a look.
Thank you

Handymans342

If you have the boat in the water and the motor goes bad, how would you change it without pulling the boat out of the water without a coupling. 

YYZRC

Only a guess but since there’s no clearance to remove the motor head I think the prop shaft/gearbox needs to be removed first. 

https://images.app.goo.gl/Sjj9NnjAqKg78mML6

aero3113

Was thinking it’s like an outdrive shaft into the coupler, unbolt and slide out...

Aqua_Aura

There's probably a set screw on the shaft. 

Handymans342

I’m telling you that the motor has to decouple from the prop shaft some how

aero3113

@Handymans342 , understood, LoL. I told you he was going to look.

YYZRC

aero3113 said:

Was thinking it’s like an outdrive shaft into the coupler, unbolt and slide out...

I'm pretty sure thats exactly how the Lewmar is.  That's how my Side Power is.  But with the tight clearances in the photos you showed I could see how it would be possible that the shaft from the gearbox won't fully decouple from the motor without loosening the gearbox.

Really annoying install if that is the case!

aero3113

I helped my coworker winterize his engine and water system today. While I was there I took a look at the thruster. Told him to remove the two hex head screws at the coupler, it came right out after that.

PickleRick

Bow thrusters are mana from God