Centaur stiff rudder

[Guest]

My recently purchased 1975 Centaur has a very stiff rudder which my partner finds very difficult to use when under sail or motor. The bushes were replaced prior to purchase and I was wondering if it is possible to loosen it a little ? I posted the same question on the Westerly Owners Internet site and had one reply which suggested I use WD40. I have yet to try this and would like to hear of any more suggestions before my crew abandons ship.

Regards

 

[AndrewB]

Centaurs are usually quite light on the tilller.

Why were the bushes replaced prior to puchase? I don't see why the new ones should need easing. Is it possible the rudder post is slightly bent?

 

[oldharry]

Sounds either as though the wrong material was used for the new bushes, which have expanded with being submerged and are binding on the rudder post, or the rudder post itself is bent.

Either way WD40 will do absolutely no good at all as it will just be washed straight off again. The only 'fix' is to dismantle it all and find out whats happening. If its binding, lubricant will not penetrate the bearing, and would not relieve the pressure anyway, and of course it will not straighten a bent rudder post!

 

[Rob_Webb]

I agree with the advice - in other words it's a good-news-bad-news story... the good news is that all Centaur's should be very light on the helm (mine was featherlight and a delight to helm - almost dinghy-like on a beat)... but the bad news is that in the short term you need to carry out some kind of remedial work .... but it will be worth it, believe me!

Rob

 

[vyv_cox]

Quite a few polymeric bushing materials swell in water, Nylon 12, for example, by up to 11%. No harm to it, just ream out when fully swelled. Adding a solid lubricant, such as MoS2 as I think is in WD40, will be useless as the bushing material itself is a solid lubricant.

 

[Guest]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I found out the bushes are from Trafalgar and made from Polyetherline UHMW. They have been supplied by them for the past 7 years and have not caused any problems. Possibly as they are new they need chance to bed down. I will get it checked out when the boat comes out for the season.

Cheers

 

[AndrewB]

A couple more ideas ...

... for when you do pull out, if its still tight.

1. The new bushes should have been bedded with the rudder in position. This ensures correct alignment. It might be worth rebedding.

2. Rather than mess with the bushes, the rudder post can be lightly sanded with emery paper to ease the fit.

 

[paulstevens]

greetings,

word of advice, dont touch the rudder stock with emery paper as suggested below. This will damage the surface of the stainless creating ideal conditions for future crevice corrosion to that part of the stock within the bush.