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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:	SAILING
Notice:	Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:	UNIFIX::BERENS

Created:	Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:	Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2299
Total number of notes:	20724

1460.0. "fixing worn rudder bearings?" by CGHUB::THUET () Tue Mar 20 1990 10:13

    
    Does anyone have any experience replacing rudder post bearings?
    Over the last couple of years, NORTH WIND (32' O'Day Center-
    Cockpit Ketch [vintage 1976]) has developed increasing play/wobble
    in her rudder post.  Last year, after replacing a rusted grease
    fitting, I was able to shoot her full of enough lube to eliminate
    the modest chatter experienced during stop-to-stop wheel spins.
    The time has come though, to pay the piper!
    
    The support structure has been glassed in by the manufacture and
    the only visible section is where the post joins the quadrant.
    The quadrant's inner collar appears to hold the post.
    
    Before I start unbolting things, I thought I'd check for your
    collective wisdom.  Any ideas on the type of bearings used on these
    assemblies?  Will the rudder and post slide out easily(right!! I
    just slapped myself for that remark) or will it need persuasion.
    
    Thanks for your help,
    
    Bob

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1460.1	Try Pearson Yachts, Cust Service	BOMBE::ALLA		`Tue Mar 20 1990 15:42`	9
	Yup, its sounds like it will be fun! Call Pearson Yachts in Portsmouth RI(customer service). They bought out what remained of O'Day last fall. They might have the drawings for the 32, which shows the detail of the rudder support. I have found Pearson customer service(for old Pearsons) to be very good. Frank
1460.2	another use for epoxy	MSCSSE::BERENS	Alan Berens	`Tue Mar 20 1990 16:00`	12
	re .0: The Gougeon Brothers (WEST epoxy) describe how to repair worn rudder bearings when the rudder shaft is simply riding in a fiberglass tube. Roughly, remove the rudder, coat the shaft with a mold release (wax and possibly polyvinyl alcohol), and reinstall after thoroughly removing all grease and other contaminants from the shaft tube. Mix a batch of epoxy and graphite powder and inject into the rudder shaft tube. After the epoxy hardens, the graphite acts as a lubricant. This process should give you a zero slop fit. Give Gougeon a call and they'll send you the details.
1460.3	Might be simple	AKOV12::DJOHNSTON		`Tue Mar 20 1990 16:24`	13
	We repaired rudder bearings that were simply at deck level and at thru-hull. Made by harken and unbolted. Replaced the nylon bearings and re-installed. The bitch was that the boat was about three inches short of being up high enough to easily drop out the rudder once the top fitting was removed. I was chuckling to myself by picturing what would happen if you didn't completely cover the post in wax doing Alan's way. At any rate, check that there aren't two fittings that you can remove before you fill up the back of your boat with epoxy. Dave
1460.4	Been there before!	LILAC::KITTLE	Life's a reach and then you Jibe	`Thu Mar 22 1990 14:54`	21
	Hi Bob, I was faced with a similar problem last year with my vintage 1975 27' O'day. First of all the rudder needs to be persuaded. A block of wood on top of the rudder post (after you removed the tiller) a couple of taps with a small sledge hammer and out she comes. I ran into the problem of the boat being to low so I dug a hole beneath the rudder deep enough so it would fall out. After I dropped the rudder I purchased a piece of PVC pipe 2" Dia (ID I believe) X the lenght of the rudder post. With a little light sanding the rudder shaft fit into the PVC pipe, a goood running and sliding fit (add a little marine grease). Make sure you put they bottom collar back on. Then epoxy the out side of the PVC and put it back in the boat where it belongs. This method produces a full length bushing in stead of the two little ones that wear down the metal on the rudder shaft. I believe the slop comes the shaft being worn. At least that was my problem. This method was given to me by O'day. And it works great. steve kittle p.s. Were you the fellow talking with Bill Russell at Nichols Tues. eve ?