how to grease rudder

[verbier123]

I just bought a 97 SN and replaced the steering cable. The rudder still seems to be a little stiff. I could not find a factory zerk fitting. How do you grease the rudder manually? I looked long and hard and couldn't find any specific post explaining how to do it. Thanks.

[SkiTower]

RE: how to grease rudder

I have no idea where yours is, but on my 211 it's at the rear of the engine compartment. There's a tube running down.

[NigelC]

RE: how to grease rudder

I am sure they weren't standard in '97.
I had to fit one myself on my '99. I fitted a zerk directly onto the rudder box directly facing forward. Need to lift the floor section to get the grease gun on. I believe you can order the remote zerk as a kit from the dealer.

[Rick]

RE: how to grease rudder

You wouldn't just grease it you would have to repack it with 1/4" Waxed Flax packing Search repacking here and on Correctcraftfan. There are detailed instructions Wile doing this you could then add a zerk fitting to reduce the need to repack it. I would also use the teflon impregnated flax. You can get it fronm your dealer or SKIDIM. Good luck Its easy

[darrel409]

RE: how to grease rudder

You will have to drop the rudder to gain access.

[foiltravis]

I had the same issue with my 98SN and ended up removing the rudder so that I could grease the shaft, this fixed the problem but if I had it to do over I would have installed a grease zerk while I was in there. See my append in the following link.

http://www.planetnautique.com/index....ghlight=#24577

[verbier123]

For those that added the grease zerk, did you have to remove the gas tank or anything to reach the rudder box? It sure seems like a strech.

[verbier123]

dropped rudder

I removed the rudder. Does anyone know where the paperthin bronze washer goes? Thanks,

[Rick]

RE: dropped rudder

It should go between the top of the packing nut and the tiller arm.

[verbier123]

Re: RE: dropped rudder

It should go between the top of the packing nut and the tiller arm.

Thanks, thats where I thought but for some reason it just didn't look right and I second guessed myself. Steering turns easily with one finger now!

I have roughly 3/8" up-down play in the rudder. Based on other comments on these forums I assume that is normal?

I added a grease zerk to the front of the rudder box as others have in the past, for anyone looking to do it in the future, I HIGHLY recomend the Bosch Model PS20-2 pocket driver. I used it to turn the 1/4"-28 tap and then to screw the zerk in place. Sealed it in with blue loktite. A traditional style tap handle will not fit under the rear seats (it will fit but will only allow a 1/4 turn at a time and would problably screw up the thread.)

Thanks,