Looking for Hunter 340 owner help

[sailcapt340]

The grease fittings on the steering column (top & bottom) are standard grease fittings. Any grease gun will connect to them. I’m assuming they have never been grease before, so they will be dry and may need more than 2-3 pumps of the handle to fill each fitting.
Just go by eye, you’ll see a small amount of grease ooze from the fitting and stop. That’s enough.
For the one fitting at the base of the column, you’ll never see any grease come from anywhere, but 2-3 full handle pumps of the gun will do the trick. If the grease gun nipple comes off on the bottom of the column while your pumping grease in, you’ll need two people. One to hold the nipple on the fitting and another to pump the handle. The access to it through the small opening in the pedestal is very tight.
For mine, I reach down and hold the nipple on the fitting and my wife pumps the handle of the gun. There’s just no other way for me to get in there and do both. That’s the closest she‘ll get to the grease.

I read about the grease you are mentioning and it seems it will do the job. Water resistant, great quality.
Yes, I do remove the compass to access the top fittings and steering gear. Once removed, it’s all right there.
The ball joints on the steering linkage rod DO NOT have grease fittings. They SHOULD, but don’t, it would make servicing so much easier. Just smear the ball, top and bottom with grease and twist the rod to get it to flow all around.
Do this and you should be good to go. You’ll definitely notice a difference in the steering control.
Make this a part of your spring commissioning each year.

 

[looking2buy]

Was at the boat yesterday...
Steering rod ball joints were very dry. As a matter of fact the forward ball joint (under steering column) wouldn't rock is was so bad. Greased those two and now free and easy. I greased the top gears and sprockets (at the top of the column) by hand but didn't see any grease gun fittings. I didn't end up removing the compass because the bucket under the drink holders comes out and seemed like that gave me access to that area. Are there any pictures in the manual that show the 2 grease fittings at top and bottom? Do you access both fittings from above down through the compass 'hole'? Or is the bottom fitting accessed from down at the floor? Sorry to be a pain with all the follow up but I want to make sure I get these done.

BTW, even with just greasing the 2 ball joints the steering is much better.

Thank you!

 

[sailcapt340]

Just came in from a walk and saw the notice of a reply to the thread you posted. Good timing I guess.

It doesn't surprise me that the ball joints were that stiff, and after greasing them they freed up, a little grease will go a long way. You really dodged a bigger problem waiting to happen there.

Greasing the top gears by hand is really the only way to put grease on them, good job!
The removing of the bucket your talking about, we use ours as an ice bucket (some use it as storage) will get you the limited access to the bottom fitting, about 2 feet down and to the right of the column, if you were standing at the wheel.
But, remove the compass, 4 screws on the compass (black), not the mounting plate (red). That will give you more light in the area and show the grease fittting located just in front of the wheel to the right. Or if you are looking down through that hole, just above the gear to the right (depending on what side your standing on). There's a bearing in there and that needs grease. If you thought the steering got easier after the ball joints, you'll see another difference after that bearing is greased.

It's not in the manual, it may be in the Edson pedestal Manual, I'll look for mine.
Hard as it is, There is no other way to access the bottom column fitting except through the bucket access, now you know why I said it was a two person job, one man cannot hold the gun, nozzle and pump the handle in a 1 foot square opening. But you'll get a system that works for you after it's completed once.

It's all a learning process, your not being a pain. After this you'll mentally sail a lot easier knowing everthing is working for you, not against you.

I'll look for the Edson Manual and get back to you if I find it.

 

[sailcapt340]

I found my Edson Paperwork for Pedestal Steering Maintenance. The orientation of the photos may be off, I'm using an iPad for all of this, so I apologize.
The pages are a little stained and folded but you can read them.
I'm posting them here so others can see them, but I'll try sending them to you via a personal message. They are on the way.....maybe!
These will clear up a lot of your questions and more.
I can fax them to you if you want or email them if you can't read these. Personal Message me with details if you need to.

 

[looking2buy]

Perfect, thank you!

I think I may have found a manual online that shows pictures of the fittings...see attached. Are these where your's are?

Which ring of screws do I remove for compass...outer 4 or inner 4? Mine doesn't have red or black...it's all black.

 

[looking2buy]

sorry...attachments

 

[sailcapt340]

The four inner screws closest to the compass globe. Yes those are the grease point locations. The center photo of the five pictures is the point under the compass. The bottom left picture is the bottom of your column. Depending on your column, you may or may not have the point in the top left picture.
You should be good to go now. Be prepared for far more easier steering, it will be noticeable.

 

[looking2buy]

Sailcapt340,

I can't thank you enough for all your patience and help! As a new owner it is very reassuring that other owners are willing to take the time and effort to offer guidance and advice. Can't wait to get in the water!

 

[sailcapt340]

We’re all here to help when you need it. There’s a wealth of information within this site from everyone. Just tap into it when you need it.
Your welcome, from all of us. Fair Winds.

 

[looking2buy]

Sailcapt340,

Any other, often overlooked maintenance tasks you'd recommend?

 

[sailcapt340]

Since the boat is out of the water right now...........and your in grease mode.........
Your seacocks should be exercised to make sure each is opening and closing with ease. If not, they'll need to be lubed, sprayed up into them or applied with a long applicator up to the ball in each one. Marlube or Super Lube is good.
Your Roller Furler should be grease with a Super Lube. The hoisting point has ball bearings in it (top and bottom) and the Lower Furler has bearings also. Each are easily seen. A little grease goes along way, don't use much. There is a small indentation on each where you insert grease and then rotate the fittings to get it to go all around.

Change out your impeller also, if you haven't or don't know when it was done last.

You should disinfect the Potable Water System. Peggy Hall on this site has complete lists of how to's, regarding plumbing. See her formula for bleach, water ratio and procedure to cleanse the system.

Off the top of my head that's what comes to mind.
But check the Forum Archives under Commissioning for complete lists.

 

[looking2buy]

Can I use the same aerosol spray Super Lube on the furler as recommended on the seacocks or do you recommend a traditional grease (like I used on the pedestal)?

 

[sailcapt340]

Different grease than the pedestal....Others here will have their recommendations regarding this, hopefully they will weigh in.
I believe you have a Selden Furler on your 340. They actually have their own grease and recommend that. One tube can last years, that's how little is needed. SuperLube is also recommended as an alternative. But the spray is thinner than the tube. I use the tube version of SuperLube for the Furler and the spray version for the seacocks. Again, it's thinner consistency gets into the seacock better.
I did use MarLube for the seacocks, but got to heavy handed with it and actually cause one to seize up. It coagulated in it and stopped it from opening or closing.
I freed it this winter using a heat gun to heat the seacock and melt the grease out. Now it's my best seacock on the boat.
So be cautious, a little goes a long way!

 

[Bill19233]

One thing that broke on my boat due to lack of lubrication, the gear shift on the transmission. The block at the end of the cable seized up on the transmission lever, wouldn’t rotate and the threaded cable end broke off in the block.
There’s rumors that before I managed to repair it, I actually laid in the aft cabin and shifted the transmission manually so we could get out of the marina to a race.

 

[looking2buy]

sailcapt340,

What do you use to rebed the floor board hardware in the cockpit? The 2 screws on top and 4 screws with rubber bumpers on aft end of floor panel.

 

[sailcapt340]

Use 3M 4200 or equivalent. It’s flexible, giving the floor panel a cushion and seals the screw holes from leaking. You need a good quality removable type sealant.

 

[looking2buy]

that's what I was going to use but wanted to get a 'professional' opinion

thanks again.