Rudder Lubrication

[H2O]

I have discovered that my rudder has no grease zerk. How do I disassemble it to lubricate it, are there bearings or other wear parts inside, and what grease should be used?

[DanielC]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

You need grease, and some Stainless safety wire. Do what ever you have to do to get to the top of the rudder, inside the boat. Support the rudder from under the boat with block of wood, or something else. Loosen the clamp bolt on the pittman arm, on the side of the rudder, and then remove the bolt on top of the rudder. You can then lift the pittman arm off the rudder. Remember any shims that are under the pittman arm and above the rudder port. Go under the boat, and remove the block of wood, while holding the rudder. If you are lucky, the rudder might come all the way out by turning fully right or left, and not hit some part of your trailer. If the rudder will not come all the way out, put a fairly large block of wood between a jack, and the boat, and carefully lift the boat off of the trailer enough for the rudder to clear the trailer. After the rudder is out, clean the rudder shaft, and the rudder port. Turn the steering wheel back and forth to see how stiff it is. If it is still hard to turn, your cable end might need to be cleaned, and lubed. Put new grease on the rudder shaft, and put it back in the boat. Hold the rudder with a block of wood, in the same position as when you removed it. Put any shims back that came off. The steering wheel might have to be moved slightly for the pittman are to go back on the rudder. If the pittman are will not go over the rudder, pry the opening more open with a large screwdriver, and put it back on. Put the bolt on to the top of the rudder, and remove the block of wood, under the boat, holding the rudder. Turn the steering back and forth again to see if anything is binding. Center the steering wheel, and look at the rudder to see if it is more or less straight back. If the pittman arm is put on wrong, the rudder will be pointing sideways. If the rudder is pointing back, put the bolt back in the pittman arm. Check the top bolt in the rudder shaft is tight. Put the safety wire back on the two bolts, and try to wrap the wire so it is trying to pull the two bolts clockwise. (tighten) Check the steering again to see that is is still free. Put the back of your boat back together.

[darrel409]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

^^^Great write up. I added a zerk fitting to my rudder and another to the stern so its quick and easy to keep it lubed.

[ScrewPusher]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

I used a Teflon grease that was designed for use on prop shaft packing glands, stickiest grease I've seen. Got it at West Marine. I had one of the old CC trailers, so I unbolted the prop gaurd and lowered the bow and that was enough to get the rudder out. Really clean out all the old grease.

[wakejunky]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

Darrel,

That is a nice looking retrofit.

I wish there was a way to lube the steering cable. Then there wouldn't be any need to change it out as frequently.

Chris

[bobchris]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

Guess you don't relize that the grease gets washed out by the water and you didn't even mention adjusting the packing gland because if it's adjusted correctly the rudder won't drop down when the top bolt and arm are removed. 9 times out of 10 its the steering cable causing the problem. but **** do what you want big waste of time to me but knock your self out.

[jos]

RE: Rudder Lubrication

Anyone did a rebuild job on his rudder. Mine 1991 has radial play, in my opinoin more then healty. Does this cause vibration when sharp turning? I think it vibrates because the prop is then putting huge amounts of water when the rudder is fully turned.
I would like to take it out in wintertime and if enough wall is there lathe it and put in those maintanance free bullit proof SKF bushings.
Anyone did such a job?

[bobchris]

Re: RE: Rudder Lubrication

Anyone did a rebuild job on his rudder. Mine 1991 has radial play, in my opinoin more then healty. Does this cause vibration when sharp turning? I think it vibrates because the prop is then putting huge amounts of water when the rudder is fully turned.
I would like to take it out in wintertime and if enough wall is there lathe it and put in those maintanance free bullit proof SKF bushings.
Anyone did such a job?

it's not going to vibrate when it's load in one direction so if you have a vibration then you need to be looking some other place as the source.

[Rick]

RE: Re: RE: Rudder Lubrication

Don't forget to replace the packing in the nut of the rudder. It should be 1/4" flax or Teflon impregnated flax. If it gets hard you can pump grease into the gland all day long it's still going to leak.