Hi Joe, Saw your H260 motor/Helm link post in the Photo Forum -- Good idea! I really like the concept of the overhead retaining pin on the rudder end. Thank you for sharing it with us. What is the source for the tie rod ends that you used? Also, did you thread the clevis pins yourself, or can they be purchased that way? Finally, did you cut extra clearance in the transome slot where the linkage attaches to the steering arm. The slot on my boat, I beleive, is pretting close to the steering arm (the balck aluminum piece that connects the rudder post to the steering cables) on top and bottom. Fair winds... Tom
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Joe
Steering parts sources
Thanks Tom, I have to credit Bernie S. of GA. for some ideas and inspiration. I posted some additional pictures that may help. Here are the parts sources: FK Bearings, Inc., Southington,CT 1-800-662-4003 SCF8T Female stainless steel rodend with teflon liner $21.66/ea (2 required) Fastenal Company, Winona, MN 507-454-5361 18-8 T-rod 1/2-20x3’ $25.74/ea 316 s/s FHN 1/2-20 $2.25/ea Industrial Supply Solutions, Inc. Salisbury, NC 704-636-4241 03-8376 Stainless clevis pin $6.10/ea (cotterless clevis pin, special order but they got it in two days. Ask for Steel Vault. Yes, that’s really his name.) I had to have a machinist to thread the pins. I attached the rod to the rudder arm as close to the back of the helm seat as I could and still clear through the travel. The arm on the outboard was custom made. Some manufacturers have them. I had this one made so as to match the distance from the outboard pivot to rod end and rudder pivot to rod end, (1:1 travel ratio). I hope this helps. I have benefited much from the help of others and am really happy with the way it turned out. If you need any addition info. just email me. Joe C. in NC ‘01 H260 Finally sailing “Windward Passage”
Thanks Tom, I have to credit Bernie S. of GA. for some ideas and inspiration. I posted some additional pictures that may help. Here are the parts sources: FK Bearings, Inc., Southington,CT 1-800-662-4003 SCF8T Female stainless steel rodend with teflon liner $21.66/ea (2 required) Fastenal Company, Winona, MN 507-454-5361 18-8 T-rod 1/2-20x3’ $25.74/ea 316 s/s FHN 1/2-20 $2.25/ea Industrial Supply Solutions, Inc. Salisbury, NC 704-636-4241 03-8376 Stainless clevis pin $6.10/ea (cotterless clevis pin, special order but they got it in two days. Ask for Steel Vault. Yes, that’s really his name.) I had to have a machinist to thread the pins. I attached the rod to the rudder arm as close to the back of the helm seat as I could and still clear through the travel. The arm on the outboard was custom made. Some manufacturers have them. I had this one made so as to match the distance from the outboard pivot to rod end and rudder pivot to rod end, (1:1 travel ratio). I hope this helps. I have benefited much from the help of others and am really happy with the way it turned out. If you need any addition info. just email me. Joe C. in NC ‘01 H260 Finally sailing “Windward Passage”
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Tom
Thank you...
Joe, Thank you for providing all the detailed info on the parts. This is definately going on the project list. I keep my boat (1999 H260 -- Prime Time) on a mooring and don't usually have to negotiate tight quarters. But on the ocassions that I do, I will sometimes lean over the back rail and muscle the motor to one side or the other for added steering control. How convenient it would be to have the motor connected to the helm in those cases. Fair winds... Tom
Joe, Thank you for providing all the detailed info on the parts. This is definately going on the project list. I keep my boat (1999 H260 -- Prime Time) on a mooring and don't usually have to negotiate tight quarters. But on the ocassions that I do, I will sometimes lean over the back rail and muscle the motor to one side or the other for added steering control. How convenient it would be to have the motor connected to the helm in those cases. Fair winds... Tom
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Sailrj
Single source for parts
Joe C. did a great job of the helm/motor link, good enough I started ordering the parts once I saw it. Thanks Joe!!!! Ran into problem though, getting the rod ends from the manufacturer. They referred me to McMaster Carr,who has a web site-www.mcmastercarr.com and was able to order all the parts from them and they have some neat stainless steel plates for mounting the quick-disconnect pins, which they also have already threaded. Definitely worth looking at.
Joe C. did a great job of the helm/motor link, good enough I started ordering the parts once I saw it. Thanks Joe!!!! Ran into problem though, getting the rod ends from the manufacturer. They referred me to McMaster Carr,who has a web site-www.mcmastercarr.com and was able to order all the parts from them and they have some neat stainless steel plates for mounting the quick-disconnect pins, which they also have already threaded. Definitely worth looking at.
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Tom
Thanks for more info
Sailrj, Thanks for the link to McMaster-Carr -- excellent site. I cannot find the threaded mounting plates you referenced. What section can they be found in? Fair winds... Tom
Sailrj, Thanks for the link to McMaster-Carr -- excellent site. I cannot find the threaded mounting plates you referenced. What section can they be found in? Fair winds... Tom
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sailrj
Plates
Tom, Try "Ball Mounting Hardware". Its in the section under "gas springs". They even have some stainless steel gas springs in that section that have got to have an application on a sailboat.
Tom, Try "Ball Mounting Hardware". Its in the section under "gas springs". They even have some stainless steel gas springs in that section that have got to have an application on a sailboat.
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Sailrj
Plates
Tom, Got the plates in today and was a little disappointed. They already have a small ball mounted. I willl have drill the balls out to use and the mounting holes. Every thing else was as described. Looking at the pricing, was wondering if Joe C. considered the 3/8" rod and rod ends? There is a major $ savings versus the 1/2", and I know it would be heavy enough.
Tom, Got the plates in today and was a little disappointed. They already have a small ball mounted. I willl have drill the balls out to use and the mounting holes. Every thing else was as described. Looking at the pricing, was wondering if Joe C. considered the 3/8" rod and rod ends? There is a major $ savings versus the 1/2", and I know it would be heavy enough.
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Joe
Good Deal Sailrj
I love McMaster-Carr and they have probably the best web site that I have ever seen. I checked with them by phone on the rod ends and was told that they only stocked a few parts from that company and that rod ends weren't one of them. I'm glad that they were able to fix you up. I thought about the 3/8" pins and rod ends and I'm sure that they are strong enough. I like the rod being 1/2" though and the pin size and thread size are the same. Good Luck with everything. Once I got all the parts it was the easiest modification for the amount of benefit that I have done. Fair Winds, Joe C.
I love McMaster-Carr and they have probably the best web site that I have ever seen. I checked with them by phone on the rod ends and was told that they only stocked a few parts from that company and that rod ends weren't one of them. I'm glad that they were able to fix you up. I thought about the 3/8" pins and rod ends and I'm sure that they are strong enough. I like the rod being 1/2" though and the pin size and thread size are the same. Good Luck with everything. Once I got all the parts it was the easiest modification for the amount of benefit that I have done. Fair Winds, Joe C.
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Tom
McMaster-Carr -- a Great resource...
I ordered the parts for a motor/Helm link from McMaster-Carr and they arrived two days later with no shipping charge! I went with 5/16" diameter to match the exising hole in my outboard steering control link. Should be sturdy enough. Thank you Joe and Sailrj for your posts. Fair winds... Tom
I ordered the parts for a motor/Helm link from McMaster-Carr and they arrived two days later with no shipping charge! I went with 5/16" diameter to match the exising hole in my outboard steering control link. Should be sturdy enough. Thank you Joe and Sailrj for your posts. Fair winds... Tom
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