Steering Quadrant Question

JoeWhite · Mar 28, 2015

If you look at the diagram that you have provided - there should be a rudder collar and bearing above deck and there should be a pin or bolt through it. Take a look. I wonder if the bolt is missing so the rudder post has dropped down and is sitting on the hose. I would think that is not how it was designed. On my boat where your hose is at I have a stuffing box. There is no hose.

artboas · Mar 29, 2015

This is wrong

HMT2 said:
Ok, sailors I need some help. I was lubricating my steering system and pushed up on the quadrant and realized that the quadrant moved upwards about 3/8" inch. In this elevated position that stop did not hit the top and still worked properly. Let me say that my steering system works fine. The cables are all in great shape, the chain is good. I have sailed it in heavy seas (5 to 6 feet in the Gulf in October) and it worked just fine. I had it out of the water in November and checked the rudder then. Also, I dove on it a few weeks ago and the rudder felt fine although I did not push upward on the rudder in the water. The rudder collar is there and looks properly attached. It appears to be marelon or PVC, it is not metal.

So I am looking for information about the quadrant. Is it supposed to sit on the hose gland? I have attached pictures.

Again the steering is working well although I only just now noticed that the quadrant is sitting on the hose gland but I don't have any idea how long it has been this way. Anxious to hear from you experts out there.

The rudder has a bearing & pin to hold it up.
The rudder, being lighter than the water it displaces, is floating on the hose. This is wrong.
Suggest you look above the deck

kloudie1 · Mar 29, 2015

Rudder Bearing.

The picture looks to me as if someone moved the hose upward to lightly touch the quadrant ? maybe thinking that was necessary for a seal to keep water out. The top is above any heel angle waterline, so a gland/seal is not necessary.. Or it could be that the upper bearing which is in the lazarette has slipped.. 3/8" seems to be a bit much vertical play, but I am thinking around 1/4 would be OK; so you are very close.. Note that the typical diagram shows a gap at the top of the hose.. I've attached a picture of mine .. note the gap and no gland..
That 31 steering is pretty much same as the 34's
EDIT: Inspect the vertical support bearing in the lazarette to make sure that the nylon/teflon has not worn a lot and that the collar is in the right place.

braol · Mar 30, 2015

I'd say that if everything is working properly you might be able to get away with a proper sized u-bolt clamped to the rudder post to keep the quadrant from riding up the post.

bearsails · Mar 30, 2015

Hi

I have the same boat (84 H31) the quadrant should not be sitting on top of the rubber tube, suggest as someone mentioned above that the plastic collar in your stern locker has either come loose (bolt out?) or it has split, or? In any case it is designed to hold the rudder shaft up and in position - thrust bearing idea - just pop open your stern locker seats and you should see the white plastic bearing there - it should have a bolt through it and the shaft to keep it all in place.

Good luck!

Mike

Steering Quadrant Question

HMT2

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JoeWhite

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artboas

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kloudie1

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braol

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bearsails

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HMT2

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