Isomat gooseneck question

[Sefuller]

Our O'Day 34 has the old style Isomat gooseneck, and while motorsailing back across Lake Michigan yesterday, I noticed a fair amount of wobbling in the connection points, indicating the holes for the mounting pins are wallowed out. I am wondering about the feasibility of reaming them and inserting bushings. It is certainly do-able, but I am wondering what material would be suitable for the bushings in an aluminum casting with a stainless pin? Anyone tackled this already?

 

[Ken Cross]

That's an interesting question. Is there enough meat there to use aluminum?
I'm thinking of avoiding dissimilar metals.

Ken

 

[jibes138]

I'd use aluminum for bushings as it will be a press fit I assume and the interface will then be aluminum on aluminum. If you heat up the casting to 250 degrees and freeze the bushing with dry ice you might get a slip fit for assembly. You will have to assemble quickly as the thin wall aluminum bushing will heat up fast. You will use waterproof grease I assume to lubricate the steel pin in the bushing so corrosion should not be a big concern if you regularly grease it, and you can always replace the bushing in the future by reaming it out again.