Help with rudder bearings please

[Crinan12]

Hi folks
I asked here about my tiller being really stiff back in the summer
My boat is now out of the water and i am going to try and fix this
Now the boat has been out of the water for a few weeks the tiller moves freely again. Which must be because the bearings have dried out or perhaps the colder temperature has something to do with it ?
Anyway my bearings are made of 'oilon' apparently. I was planning to sand the inside of them down a bit. Say half a mm? Does that sound a good idea? It might be hard to sand an even amount off though.

I've also read to grease them but I've also read not to because it can make it worse.
Any advice appreciated.

Oh and I wondered,the bottom one will be wet all the time whereas the top one won't be, so perhaps the bottom one is more of the issue because it's swelling with the water?
Thanks

 

[coopec]

Maybe this article is relevant? Read the Benefits of Nylacast Oilon "Reduced water absorption"

https://www.nylacast.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/nylacast-oilon-leaflet.pdf

 

[AndrewB]

Its easier to rub down the rudder shaft, which can be done evenly, than the bearings. Only a tiny amount should be necessary.

 

[Crinan12]

Cheers coopec yeah that's useful. It says reduced water consumption so perhaps swells slightly still.
Andrew any idea what is rub rudder shaft down with? Thanks

 

[pvb]

Before you do anything, it might be worth asking the Seamaster Club about it. Lots of Seamasters recently sold seem to have had new rudder bearings fitted, so there must be some knowledge out there.

www.seamasterclub.org

 

[AndrewB]

Cheers coopec yeah that's useful. It says reduced water consumption so perhaps swells slightly still.
Andrew any idea what is rub rudder shaft down with? Thanks

I assume it is steel. Emery paper (wet-and-dry, used dry). Medium coarse, polish with medium fine. Slow by hand, but it works, given you only need to take off the smallest amount. Use a power sander with great discretion as you must not mis-shape the shaft.

 

[vyv_cox]

Nylon, even Oilon, is not suitable for bearings immersed in water. I don't know what 'reduced' means exactly but some common grades of nylon swell more than 10% in water. You would be far better off replacing them in the correct material, acetal, than trying to solve the problem with guesswork.

 

[macd]

You would be far better off replacing them in the correct material, acetal, than trying to solve the problem with guesswork.

+ a lot.

 

[bikedaft]

and Dumbarton Precision Engineering will help you with the Acetal (they did for mine, and a few other jobs)

that was about 10 years ago (rudder bearing) no issues since

 

[AndrewB]

Nylon, even Oilon, is not suitable for bearings immersed in water. I don't know what 'reduced' means exactly but some common grades of nylon swell more than 10% in water. You would be far better off replacing them in the correct material, acetal, than trying to solve the problem with guesswork.

However Oilon is supposed to be relatively water resistant, for a nylon. As the OP has found it still swells, but if he can allow for that, in other respects it makes for good bearings and avoids the cost of replacement. Incidentally I have had a delrin (acetal) fitting crack.

 

[rogerthebodger]

If the OP wishes to trim the existing components I would use an abrasive flap wheel to ease out the inside diameter of the nylon bush rather than trim down the shaft.

 

[Crinan12]

Thanks everyone
In the interest of keeping costs down I might try modify the ones I have and try it for a season before getting new ones made
The previous owner made them himself and is an engineer so I am surprised that he would use an unsuitable material as he seemed meticulous
Does anyone have a view on whether to grease them or not?
Cheers

 

[Spyro]

If the OP wishes to trim the existing components I would use an abrasive flap wheel to ease out the inside diameter of the nylon bush rather than trim down the shaft.

+1

 

[scottie]

Thanks everyone
In the interest of keeping costs down I might try modify the ones I have and try it for a season before getting new ones made
The previous owner made them himself and is an engineer so I am surprised that he would use an unsuitable material as he seemed meticulous
Does anyone have a view on whether to grease them or not?
Cheers

Most engineers are fallible at some time or other but as one I would not apply grease to “Plastic “ bearings

 

[vyv_cox]

Bearing plastics are self lubricating. No need to grease.

 

[Crinan12]

Okay great cheers
Will see how I get on!