I have 1/8 inch play in my rudder which I want to fix. Is this a change the bushings job or? Thanks for any info to help!
H 31 loose rudder-new bushings or??
- Thread starter halyard50
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I do not think that there is an actual bearing in your rudder. You may want to contact Foss or Hunter and ask them about it.
I do not think you have anything to worry about with only 1/8" of play. You need to worry about growth, expansion etc.
I do not think you have anything to worry about with only 1/8" of play. You need to worry about growth, expansion etc.
Rudder Bearings
Older Hunters had two element nylon type bearings ; thelower one bolted to a platform supported up from the hull and the upper resting on the lower and thru bolted to the rudder post just below the quadrant. Your newer model may be differend; try looking thru any access panels near the quadrant and see how it's supported.
Older Hunters had two element nylon type bearings ; thelower one bolted to a platform supported up from the hull and the upper resting on the lower and thru bolted to the rudder post just below the quadrant. Your newer model may be differend; try looking thru any access panels near the quadrant and see how it's supported.
Stewart:
Is that the way your Hunter is setup? I am trying to remember on my '85 31' and I do not think that you could get to the bottom of the rudder tube.
Regardless, what do you think about 1/8" play?
Is that the way your Hunter is setup? I am trying to remember on my '85 31' and I do not think that you could get to the bottom of the rudder tube.
Regardless, what do you think about 1/8" play?
Rudder Bearing
You may want to checkout an article "Repairing a loose rudder post washer / bearing on the 28.5 web site: www.huntertwentyeightfive.com several decent pictures show how it was put together at least on the smaller 28.5. If you have 1/8" of lateral movememt at the end of a 4' rudder that should be within tolerances. I have re-bolted the two part bearing and cast a new graphite impregnated lower bearing at the lowest three inches of the inside of the rudder tube. Lots of work but NO rudder vibration or lateral movement.
You may want to checkout an article "Repairing a loose rudder post washer / bearing on the 28.5 web site: www.huntertwentyeightfive.com several decent pictures show how it was put together at least on the smaller 28.5. If you have 1/8" of lateral movememt at the end of a 4' rudder that should be within tolerances. I have re-bolted the two part bearing and cast a new graphite impregnated lower bearing at the lowest three inches of the inside of the rudder tube. Lots of work but NO rudder vibration or lateral movement.
Rudder
Below is an article that I wrote in the 42 Hunter Owner Modification section in the Boat Info tab above. As a further note, a marine surveyor told me that an interim repair to reduce play is to drop the anchor an inch or two and insert a piece of teflon sheet cut to fit your boat's rudder post diameter at the lower bearing. I've never tried this but thought it a novel idea.
Author: Terry Cox
Don Martin with Hunter Marine Customer Service provided me with the following information about our 1991 P42. I've edited his response a bit for clarity:
The rudder bearings are sleeves that are made from UHMW material. The sleeves do not require any lubricate. There is no adjustment on these bearings. If they develop too much side-to-side play then the bearings would need to be replaced. Anything over 1/8th inch play would be considered outside of tolerance and the bearing would need to be replaced.
In another e-mail to Don I asked him whether it was a matter of dropping the rudder and popping the old bearing out or did it require special tools? He said that after the rudder is removed you should be able to remove the bearings by driving the top bearing out and from the underside of the boat you should be able to insert something like a 1 x 2 up into the rudder tube and there should be a ridge at the bottom of the top bearing, you should be able to get the 1 x 2 on this ridge and drive the bearing up. This would be reverse for the bottom bearing.
Terry Cox
Below is an article that I wrote in the 42 Hunter Owner Modification section in the Boat Info tab above. As a further note, a marine surveyor told me that an interim repair to reduce play is to drop the anchor an inch or two and insert a piece of teflon sheet cut to fit your boat's rudder post diameter at the lower bearing. I've never tried this but thought it a novel idea.
Author: Terry Cox
Don Martin with Hunter Marine Customer Service provided me with the following information about our 1991 P42. I've edited his response a bit for clarity:
The rudder bearings are sleeves that are made from UHMW material. The sleeves do not require any lubricate. There is no adjustment on these bearings. If they develop too much side-to-side play then the bearings would need to be replaced. Anything over 1/8th inch play would be considered outside of tolerance and the bearing would need to be replaced.
In another e-mail to Don I asked him whether it was a matter of dropping the rudder and popping the old bearing out or did it require special tools? He said that after the rudder is removed you should be able to remove the bearings by driving the top bearing out and from the underside of the boat you should be able to insert something like a 1 x 2 up into the rudder tube and there should be a ridge at the bottom of the top bearing, you should be able to get the 1 x 2 on this ridge and drive the bearing up. This would be reverse for the bottom bearing.
Terry Cox
ComoxOrion
This is similar to your system.
I had to replace the lower sleeve bearing and shimmed the upper.
paulj :troll:
This is similar to your system.
I had to replace the lower sleeve bearing and shimmed the upper.
paulj :troll:
Attachments
I had a similar issue with a new '78 H'25. There was a lot of play in the rudder. The dealer pulled the rudder and wrapped the rudder post in with a sheet of poly or teflon material to shim the post. It worked for the 8 years that I owned the vessel.
Oops!
Hey, that's pretty good. Drop the anchor an inch or two and insert... foot in mouth.
Terry Cox
Hey, that's pretty good. Drop the anchor an inch or two and insert... foot in mouth.
Terry Cox
Thanks to everyone for your replies. Does anyone have a suggestion for purchasing or making the bearing? Hunter is not doing business with the company that supplied the nylon bearings and the cost of manufacturing one with their new supplier was going to be expensive. Just got back from picking up the Orion in Victoria and returning it to Comox, BC Canada.
Tom
Tom
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