Vega Rudder/Helm

[johnsons185]

Hi All,

having a great summer with the vega so far but would like to pose a question about the rudder/helm.

It might be nothing but if i did'nt know better i would say the rudder is stiffening up a little and creaking. I thought it was maybe dry of oil or somthing but i see no grease or oil point on the tube.

So just i wanted to know if anyone has experienced similar or if anyone knows what the problem may be?

regards

Scott Johnson
Vega 891 "Mistral"

 

[pjacobs55]

Hi Scott,
My rudder sometimes creaks where the shaft goes through the bronze fitting in the cockpit floor. I spray a little WD-40 around the shaft and let it seep into the bushing. After it loosens up a bit I follow up with some light oil, like '3-in-1'.
Hope this helps,
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'

 

[pjacobs55]

Or maybe it's the lower bearing, which will eventually wear out in any boat? I don't know much about these bearings, but I understand surveyors test them by, when boat is hauled, grabbing the rudder and shoving it around. Shouldn't clunk or obviously have play in the lower bearing, I believe. A bad bearing should be attended to in due course.Nicholas H. Walsh P.A.
111 Commercial St.
Portland ME 04101
207/772-2191
Fax 207/774-3940

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From: pjacobs55
Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7:54 PM
To: AlbinVega@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [AlbinVega] Re: Vega Rudder/Helm Hi Scott,
My rudder sometimes creaks where the shaft goes through the bronze fitting in the cockpit floor. I spray a little WD-40 around the shaft and let it seep into the bushing. After it loosens up a bit I follow up with some light oil, like '3-in-1'.
Hope this helps,
Peter
#1331 'Sin Tacha'