| Author | Message | ||
     Jeff Roy New member Username: Jeffr Post Number: 93 Registered: 03-2001 Rating: N/A |
I replaced the rudder pin bushings on my boat this spring. I got them from S2 and they said they were the only 2 left in their inventory. I had to put the bushings in the freezer over night to get them pressed into the rudder gudgeons. Once they were in there I could not get the rudder pins through them. In a bit of haste I used a hammer and hammered them into place through the transome and rudder gudgeons so I could make my launch date. Well there is no more slop in my rudder, it was considerable before. Unfortunately becuase the bushings are so tight, the rudder is very difficult to turn. The pins do not seem to move in the bushings at all so I only have the metal/metal interface between the rudder pins and the transom gudgeons. It has been about a months since I launched the boat and the rudder is slowly loosening up but the pins are still frozen in the bushings. I guess I am slowly wearing away the metal. I also think it is going to be near impossible to remove the pins if I every have to get my rudder off again. In hindsight I think I should have just ignored the slop and left everything alone. The one up side of this is now I can let go of the tiller and walk around the boat and it will keep sailing straight! |
