Currently in St Marys, GA boat yard doing bottom maintenance. Trying to drop rudder to fix a crack on top of the rudder (see pic). What seemed like an easy job proved much more difficult (like most boat projects). I was able to remove the 4 bolts in the collar with lots of heat and PB Blaster. However, the pin is really stuck. Heating, PB blaster, a brass punch and a heavy mallet would not move the pin. I am afraid to use too much force in order not to break things. It looks like the collar is aluminum and the shaft is carbon fiber, at least the top is. Any suggestions what else I could try? Am I correct with the statement that the collar is aluminum and the shaft is carbon fiber. The boat is a 2003. Thanks for your suggestions.
44ds rudder drop
- Thread starter HarryvdMeer
- Start date
Is there any chance that pin is tapered and needs to come out from the opposite direction? Or separate the cap from the rest taking the pin with it? Just wondering.
I tried both ways. I also tried using a plastic wedge to separate the two halves, but no budging.
I had the same problem - mine had a SS pin stuck in aluminum, bad combo. I made a press out of 1/4" bar stock and 1" threaded rod and pressed it out, very slowly with lots of loud noises as it released. Heat helps. I replaced it with a long bolt, covered in Tef-Gel with a nut between the bolt head and the collar that can be used to press the bolt out in the future. Here's the press I made:
