SD50 Saildrive

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Posted: 05 October 2025 at 22:09

Good - confirms what I was thinking.

I plan on removing the lower leg, then separate the engine, shift it and then remove the sail drive.

Hopefully all goes well… 🤞🤞🤞

Issywa

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Posted: 14 October 2025 at 22:39

I’ll follow up with more details in another post but I am having a problem with the prop shaft “binding”. I separated the lower unit from the upper to facilitate removal but am wondering if I messed up the tolerances in the vertical drive shaft. I can freely rotate the pinion gear but not after I insert the lower bearings that contain the prop shaft.

Any suggestions?

Issywa

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Posted: 10 November 2025 at 16:47

So prop wasn’t turning properly because I put the coupler in upside down while connecting the lower and upper drives. This caused a misalignment of the prop shaft and wouldn’t allow the housing that contains the lower seals etc to properly seat. Because I belong to the “Bigger Hammer Club”, I forced it on which in turn ruined the housing, bearing and the raceway that it sits in. I also had to replace the seals because I was unable to remove them without compromising their integrity. Upon realizing that I had messed up the lower housing (obvious because it cracked), I was pretty annoyed (understatement) with myself which in my case gave me enough determination that I immediately started to dismantle things that I had just reassembled and lifted the entire SD50 out and over the engine by myself. At this point, I brought it to a mechanic who replaced the damaged parts for me at no small cost.

So the moral of the story is to clearly read and understand the manual (RTFM) and don’t force parts together. In my self defense, the manual I had sucks….

Did I mention that a boat can not only rejuvenate your soul, but also suck it out!

MartinR34

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Posted: 10 November 2025 at 16:58

Sorry to hear that but easily done. I too had a tendency to subscribe to the 'Bigger Hammer Club' but have got a lot better at taking a step back and thinking things through. Mainly because not doing so can get expensive!!

Hopefully you'll be able to get it all back together and back in the water soon.

Sapphire. 2010 400 #687

Issywa

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Posted: 10 November 2025 at 18:34

All good now and back on in the water.

I should also note that the diaphragms looked like they were brand new. What a crock replacing them at 7? years per Yanmar.

Hanse111111 View Drop Down

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Posted: 27 February 2026 at 14:26

Has anyone on a Hanse 430e (4JH4AE + SD50) replaced the SD50 with an SD60?

I'm looking for real-world experience specific to the 430 platform.

Specifically:
– Did the SD60 bolt directly onto the existing engine bed?
– Was an adapter plate required?
– Did you need a new damper plate or coupler for the 4JH4AE?
– Any alignment or clearance issues?
– Total labor hours?

Trying to determine if this is a straightforward upgrade or a structural project.

Issywa

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