Shaft key missing

[Briank117]

Hey gang,

‘Twas Monkeying around today in the boat, and I happen to notice I’m missing the starboard side shaft key. Judging by my port shaft, the starboard shaft looks to have pulled away from the coupler a tad. Can anybody be walk me through repairing this, and/or sourcing a new key?

Boat is still in water at my pier.
‘74 F32 318’s

Thanks

[prowlersfish]

Is it still lined up ? I would probe and see if the key is just up in the coupler a bit .

[Briank117]

Prowlersfish,

Excellent call. Looks to be still there. Should that shaft be further into the coupler? I know it may be difficult to say solely using the “eye test”. Ive never seen an unassembled shaft/coupler setup, so I’m clueless about all of this.

Thanks again

[prowlersfish]

Looking at the key way I see no sighs of movement , Hard to tell looking at the shaft , I don't think so . Mark the shaft and key a eye on it . Shaft will pushed forward in forward and back out in reverse if it is loose . You can look at it in the slip but you won't be able to put a full load on it ,

[Briank117]

Thank you for your guidance.

I went ahead an marked both.

Can’t wait for spring—already tired of the winter blues!!

[BobCT]

Could be the way it was originally installed, prob fine.