Fulmar Tiller slack.

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tt65

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The tiller on my Westerly Fulmar is slack. It appears that the bushes that allow the tiller to lift have worn OR/AND the Chromed tiller head fitting in which the bushes sit has worn.
Any one got any simple remedies for this. Buying new bits seems to be pretty costly.

Thanks
 
If it were me, I would drive out the old pin, ream the holes (to whatever size) and fit a new pin.

Of course, this assumes that you have access to the required tools.

73s de
Johnth
 
Fulmar

You would think so!! but its not always the case. The Yahoo westerly forum is not good and questions/threads often get hijacked as old buddies catch up. Next to useless IMHO others will disagree.
The new WOA forum has promise but is not well visited. There are folks in this parish who will be along shortly to help I am sure.
I have a Fulmar and maybe able to help. I took my rudder off last winter to change cutlass bearing.
Questions
Where is it actually loose. Is boat on hard or afloat . Does the tiller have slack or the rudder stock.? Is movement of tiller sideways or up and down you may have no option but replace the small bushes one each side.
Try tightening bolt that holds tiller to rudder stock
 
Last edited:
I attacked this problem last winter, I can give you a blow by blow description if you are feeling bored....

On mine the spacers/bushes on the clamp bolt had worn away the bronze fitting preventing the clamp bolt from being tightened without seizing the tiller, additionaly the square hole in the bronze fitting was nolonger square allowing the fitting to rotate on the rudder stock.

I filed the square square again and fitted two stainless steel shims with 90 bends in them, making sure they did not quite meet at the other two corners so the clamping would work.

The two sides of the bronze block were filed back allowing a stainless plate (with bolt hole) to be fitted each side under the tiller fitting, the spacers/bushes now bear on this plate allowing the clamp bolt to be tightened and grip the rudder stock whilst the tiller fitting rotates around the spacers.

If this is of any use and leaves questions give me a shout

Stuart
 
Mine is also a bit loose.The problem lies with the two spacers under the bolt head and nut.The holes in the tiller fitting tend to ovalize with time.I'm going to have two new oversize spacers made and the holes will be reamed to fit.
 
Had exactly the same problem.
Mucked about with all sorts of washers & spacers.
None seemed to work satisfactory.
In the end bit the bullet & paid £125 (I think) for a new bronze block from Trafalger.
Tiller OK now
 
tt65 said:
The tiller on my Westerly Fulmar is slack. It appears that the bushes that allow the tiller to lift have worn OR/AND the Chromed tiller head fitting in which the bushes sit has worn.
Any one got any simple remedies for this. Buying new bits seems to be pretty costly.

Thanks
Click to expand...


Buying new bits is costly and wasteful. You need to find an engineering shop with expanding reamers and get the holes in the tiller head block and the tiller end fitting restored to round and an oversize bolt fitted. You could buy a shopfull of used expanding reamers for the cost of new fittings from Trafalgar as well as sure to get bthe boat back in the water for spring.
 
Thanks

Well thanks all.

I will dismantle it all and find an engineering firm that can re drill the holes and make up new Close Fit bushes. The square block seems fine and maintains a good firm hold on the rudder shaft.

Any ideas in Surrey or Hampshire (Fareham) as to who could do this job. Dont want to stay out of commission too long as hope to sail throughout the winter. The problem is just an irritant not a hazard bit like toothache.
 
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