rudder bearing replacement

[oaky]

I have a 1986 O'Day 27 with play in the rudder, I would like to repack the bearing this winter and whatever else should be relaced. How do I do this ? Is there a schematic
on line that shows how the rudder works. I should add that I have wheel steering.

 

[RichH]

The wear on such rudder bearings is usually due to abrasion between the SS shaft and the (usually delrin/acetal) bearing material. The surface roughness of the shaft abrades away the bearing material.

To reduce the bearing wear, the shaft area at the bearing should be polished to a mirror-like surface finish ... using emory/crocus cloth, followed by 'white metal' polishing compounds which are applied to a high speed fabric buffing 'wheel', etc.

Such replacement bearings (for ODays and Pearsons) are available from drmarine.com ... and you have to dig a large pit under the rudder, drop the rudder into the pit to be able to replace the bearing.
There are alternative (better than delrin) DIY made bearings (using WEST Epoxy + Carbon powder + chopped teflon dental floss) on the web .... do websearch for "Pearson 26 + rudder + bearing".

Std. delrin bearing replacement for O-27: http://www.drmarine.com/products.asp?cat=196

 

[Ed Schenck]

The "freebie" West System booklets have a section on rudder bearing repair.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Don't know if yours is like this: http://www.c34.org/faq-pages/techdata-rudder-packing-gland.html

 

[oaky]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this topic. I've been having a heck of a time removing the aluminum rudder cap from the ss shaft. The 3/8" ss bolt came out easy but even heating, tapping, banging and twisting the cap won't releasse from the shaft. Again, any suggestions ?

 

[Stu Jackson]

Patience and have you tried PB Blaster?

 

[CalebD]

PB Blaster, absolutely.
Most likely the fitting on top of your rudder post has a keyway, or is keyed into the shaft and the fitting (stemhead?). You could consider that this fitting is 'press fit' onto the shaft. If you could rig up a puller tool, like a prop puller, it might do the trick.
Soak with PB Blaster for several days then gentle tapping and/or apply pressure with puller tool.

 

[RichH]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge on this topic. I've been having a heck of a time removing the aluminum rudder cap from the ss shaft. The 3/8" ss bolt came out easy but even heating, tapping, banging and twisting the cap won't releasse from the shaft. Again, any suggestions ?

Look VERY carefully for a VERY fine line on the portion of the aluminum tiller-head casting, especially the 'line' going vertically (perpendicular) through the section that holds the 'cross bolt' .... if so, take a sharp thin and w-i-d-e chisel and begin to 'open' this line ... and the tiller head will immediately separate from the shaft when that line is 'opened'.