Advice Please

[Little Dorrit]

I have noticed that there is quite a considerable amount of play on the my tiller due to the fact that the laminated tiller and stainless steel tiller bracket is about 6 mm wider (3mm on each side) than the rudder head; I suspect the tiller and stainless bracket are quite new and that they were not made as tight a fit as they should have been. The bracket is attached to the rudder with three bolts.

The play is not excessive but will over time get worse and is probably a problem waiting to happen!

I am thinking of having two long stainless steel plates made to act as 'washers' to sandwich between the rudder and tiller bracket.

However, I'm wondering if some 3 mm ply, a piece of sheet plastic or even rubber sheet may be kinder on the gel coat of the rudder head?

Any views welcome.

 

[Lodesman77]

I had the same issue and used an old number plate. Worked perfectly...

 

[VicS]

I have noticed that there is quite a considerable amount of play on the my tiller due to the fact that the laminated tiller and stainless steel tiller bracket is about 6 mm wider (3mm on each side) than the rudder head; I suspect the tiller and stainless bracket are quite new and that they were not made as tight a fit as they should have been. The bracket is attached to the rudder with three bolts.

The play is not excessive but will over time get worse and is probably a problem waiting to happen!

I am thinking of having two long stainless steel plates made to act as 'washers' to sandwich between the rudder and tiller bracket.

However, I'm wondering if some 3 mm ply, a piece of sheet plastic or even rubber sheet may be kinder on the gel coat of the rudder head?

Any views welcome.

I think I'd opt for hard plastic spacers. Nylon ??? PVC ???.

Seal the plastic to stainless interface well to prevent crevice corrosion

 

[MoodySabre]

A thin cutting board or an old Tupperware container are made for these jobs!

 

[Lodesman77]

I think I'd opt for hard plastic spacers. Nylon ??? PVC ???.

Seal the plastic to stainless interface well to prevent crevice corrosion

I believe number plates are acrylic...

 

[VicS]

I believe number plates are acrylic...

Difficult to get hold of now that everyone uses anti theft screws on them.......... Gone are the days when you could nip down the road and nick a set from a parked car

 

[William_H]

Hi Vic Ah the good old days.... I think the food inductry with disposable plastic containers would be a good source of shimming material . Yes I really dislike play in tiller/rudder system. With a transom mounted rudder my biggest problem has always been the bottom pintle wearing. good luck olewill

 

[Little Dorrit]

There is a plastic manufacturer locally to me where I think I can get some Nylon 6 sheet for free... So I'll probably use that or double glazing PVC sheet which I know is also readily available as offcuts as its used to clad commercial kitchens. As usual good advice ? ...thanks once again.

 

[Topcat47]

If you pop down to a local Double Glazing company and ask....they have plastic shims for window fitting. Some are even tapered so you can use two and tap either end with a small hammer to adjust the thickness. If you see a fitter's van on your travels, you might try to blag a few from them. They come into the companies in bags of 1000.

 

[Slowtack]

Nylon swells when wet, delrin is better Im told