Alden 44 - Rudder Post Grease

[alison.davey]

Hello! We have a 91' Alden 44 with water leaking while underway from the rudder post after some cold weather spurts. It doesn't appear to use the typical packing gland most rudders have. There is a grease nipple there which we filled with a grease we had on hand, but that doesn't seem to be the right grease, as it's happened again, perhaps it was too viscous? Does anyone know the correct type of grease we should be adding to the rudder post?

 

[Tally Ho]

Hopefully you have a ‘91 Alden 44. A 91’ Alden would be a monster to dock.

I can’t help with the grease, but maybe a photo of the post and where it is leaking would be helpful to help diagnose what is going on.

Greg

 

[JoeWhite]

I use lanocoat in the stuffing box. It becomes soft when the shaft turns and when cools completely seals the shaft, very little leak. I do not know anything about your rudder shaft, but I would try heating lanocoat and liquifying and adding to your rudder shaft. It may provide lubrication and seal the crackes.

 

[alison.davey]

Thanks for the replies. I’m not sure how we could get lanocoat thru the zerk fitting onto the nipple using a grease gun application.. but we’ll ponder that one. I’m attaching a photo of the rudder with grease nipple

 

[Tally Ho]

@alison.davey,

Does the top plate on that rudder tube compress packing ? If not, what is it‘s purpose?

it looks like it should be tightened down on packing to seal the rudder tube.


Greg