Hello, I know this was recently discussed but I can't seem to find the posts in the archives (archives may still be down) and was hoping to work on my problem tonite or tomorrow. The adjustment screw located on the most aft end of the tiller on my H240 apparently has become stripped as it is pushed in all the way and now the tiller moves (falls) to far downward and rubs on the King Starboard (as well as my engine remote control handle) and there seems to be a lot of looseness in the control of the tiller and rudder shaft (rudder post). Not sure how the adjustment screw got pushed inward on the tiller, but it did. It must be stripped. Question then: what does anyone suggest for correcting this problem. I assume I will have to take the tiller off of the rudder post because as it sits now, I can't reach the adjustment screw. Then, I am thinking that I will have to get a larger screw and use it in place of the current one OR do I have to re-tap the hole as well?? What size screw has anyone else used for this problem. Also, when this happened to you, did you experience a lot of play in the tiller-rudder system?? Really appreciate anyones suggestions on this. Thank you and good sailing. Daniel
Tiller adjustment screw problems.....
- Thread starter sailordll
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Washers for spacers
My tiller was also scraping the white StarBoard below it. My adjustment screw is not completely stripped, but it was corroded to the aluminum tiller and hard to get out. It fits kind of sloppy now, but stays in place. What I did to raise the height of the tiller was add some stainless washers as spacers between the screw and the back of the tiller. This raises tiller height. Even if the screw is loose, the washers should work, but the whole mess may fall out when you lift the tiller. Ultimately you may want to tap out the hole for a bigger screw. Use antiseize on it, and washers to take the strain off the threads and you'll have a permanent solution. The one thing that PO's me is using stainless fasteners on aluminum without antiseize. Leads to just this kind of problem. Regards, Marc_B
My tiller was also scraping the white StarBoard below it. My adjustment screw is not completely stripped, but it was corroded to the aluminum tiller and hard to get out. It fits kind of sloppy now, but stays in place. What I did to raise the height of the tiller was add some stainless washers as spacers between the screw and the back of the tiller. This raises tiller height. Even if the screw is loose, the washers should work, but the whole mess may fall out when you lift the tiller. Ultimately you may want to tap out the hole for a bigger screw. Use antiseize on it, and washers to take the strain off the threads and you'll have a permanent solution. The one thing that PO's me is using stainless fasteners on aluminum without antiseize. Leads to just this kind of problem. Regards, Marc_B
Questions Marc
Thanks for your response. Couple of questions please. Did you have to seperate the tiller from the post to add the washers.... if I remember correctly, I would not be able to get a screwdriver in place to remove the adjustment screw. Also, with the antiseize, as I understand you, will the antiseize bind the screw to the tiller and thus make the position perminant? Thanks again for your suggestions. Regards, Daniel
Thanks for your response. Couple of questions please. Did you have to seperate the tiller from the post to add the washers.... if I remember correctly, I would not be able to get a screwdriver in place to remove the adjustment screw. Also, with the antiseize, as I understand you, will the antiseize bind the screw to the tiller and thus make the position perminant? Thanks again for your suggestions. Regards, Daniel
I Removed the Tiller
Daniel, I removed the tiller. All of the screws that hold the tiller in place had seized, as well as the height adjustment screw at the back. I had to grab the screw heads with a vise grips to get them out, a screwdriver was just stripping the screw heads. It also turned out the screws were too long and touched inside the body of the tiller. It really wasn't that much work to remove them all and replace them with new screws of the correct length. I tried using a 90 degree Phillips screwdriver to deal with just the height adjustment screw, but couldn't get it loose. So I took all the screws out to remove the tiller and get better purchase on the height screw. Your other question - Threadlock will hold the screw in place, Antiseize will keep the parts from corroding together. They're used for different purposes. Although I understand that threadlock will also stop corrosion, it binds the parts together, while antiseize allows them to be separated. Hope this helps, Regards, Marc_B
Daniel, I removed the tiller. All of the screws that hold the tiller in place had seized, as well as the height adjustment screw at the back. I had to grab the screw heads with a vise grips to get them out, a screwdriver was just stripping the screw heads. It also turned out the screws were too long and touched inside the body of the tiller. It really wasn't that much work to remove them all and replace them with new screws of the correct length. I tried using a 90 degree Phillips screwdriver to deal with just the height adjustment screw, but couldn't get it loose. So I took all the screws out to remove the tiller and get better purchase on the height screw. Your other question - Threadlock will hold the screw in place, Antiseize will keep the parts from corroding together. They're used for different purposes. Although I understand that threadlock will also stop corrosion, it binds the parts together, while antiseize allows them to be separated. Hope this helps, Regards, Marc_B
Many Thanks
Marc, Great info, thanks much. I will work on the problem this weekend as all of a sudden work has me dry docked
Appreciate your help. Regards, Daniel
Marc, Great info, thanks much. I will work on the problem this weekend as all of a sudden work has me dry docked
Appreciate your help. Regards, Daniel- Status