Delrin rudder bearing opinions please

[anniebray]

I would also recommend readers to Google "Jefa" which is a Danish engineering firm specialising in Yacht steering systems. Their rudder bearings (rather like needle roller bearings) have delrin rollers which rotate directly on the rudder shaft. I'm currently overhauling my rudder bearings but my sizes are not standard on the Jefa product list so I shall replace with plain Delrin bushes conveniently manufactured by a fellow club member. Jefa did have a tillerhead fitting which will fit my boat so it's on order. My rudder stock is 50mm dia , 35mm dia at the tillerhead, & is Stainless steel. The old tillerhead was made from aluminium alloy whereas the replacement Jefa is Brass thus far more suitable.

 

[rudolph_hart]

Theirs a chap on ebay that makes custom rudder bearings using aectal. Had a pair for mine made for £45

I think you'll find that they are Versatile Marine, mentioned above :encouragement:

 

[DinghyMan]

I would also recommend readers to Google "Jefa" which is a Danish engineering firm specialising in Yacht steering systems. Their rudder bearings (rather like needle roller bearings) have delrin rollers which rotate directly on the rudder shaft. I'm currently overhauling my rudder bearings but my sizes are not standard on the Jefa product list so I shall replace with plain Delrin bushes conveniently manufactured by a fellow club member. Jefa did have a tillerhead fitting which will fit my boat so it's on order. My rudder stock is 50mm dia , 35mm dia at the tillerhead, & is Stainless steel. The old tillerhead was made from aluminium alloy whereas the replacement Jefa is Brass thus far more suitable.

I made some with the little rollers a while ago and did it by making the centre oversize by twice the diameter of thin delrin rod leaving a step at each end to prevent the rollers falling out then cut short lengths of the thin delrin rod and put them into the recess with some grease when replacing the bearing - its fiddly but gives the same effect as the needle bearing rollers.

 

[ostra4]

I am always amazed at people on here with such knowledge and ingenuity in solving problems and finding workarounds Which is so helpful to folk like myself with a meagre grasp of such matters .

 

[Daydream believer]

I would also recommend readers to Google "Jefa" which is a Danish engineering firm specialising in Yacht steering systems. .

+1 for Jefa
very helpful & certainly know what they are talking about.

 

[Daydream believer]

If your current bearing is indeed nylon I would have a new delrin/acetal version made.

For the record - never use Nylon as I am told ( in the spec sheets) that it swells in water

 

[ostra4]

For the record - never use Nylon as I am told ( in the spec sheets) that it swells in water

Absolutely , but my rudder was fine for a few years so I suspect it was the corrosion of the aluminium bearing carrier that caused the bearing to be compressed ...at least. Hope that's what happened and the corrosion has now be cleaned off -