Lower rudder bearing

[Ripster]

Boat (Bavaria 36c 2011) is out for its annual inspection and spruce up. I am sure I read somewhere that it's good practice to flood the lower bearing in oil by peeling back the top of the soft sleeve inside the stern by taking off the jubilee clip and literally syringing in lots of oil. The idea being that it seeps through and coats all the bearing surfaces thus helping preserve things. Sound reasonable but, I don't know the bearing materials or the technology behind the design, so wanted to check

 

[TradewindSailor]

I don't know what bearing material you have there, but I suspect it is a phenolic resin infused material .... so my advice is do NOT put oil on the bearing surfaces unless you know for sure that the materials will not be adversely effected. I can't see any reason myself for having a metal to metal bearing in this region at all ..... and it's only metal to metal that would benefit from oil ..... and then it wouldn't stay there in service.

I suggest you just flush the bearings well with fresh water.

 

[Ripster]

Thanks for that. I am fairly sure it's a resin based bearing and thus did have a nagging doubt about the Use of oil as a preserver against wear on something that lives in water and was not metallic.

 

[Tranona]

Thanks for that. I am fairly sure it's a resin based bearing and thus did have a nagging doubt about the Use of oil as a preserver against wear on something that lives in water and was not metallic.

It is water lubricated acetal which is why there is no provision for extra lubrication. There have been problems in the past when a different material was used and also where there has been corrosion in the aluminium housing which distorts the bearing so that it binds on the shaft. Provided your rudder turns smoothly there is no need to do anything.

 

[Ripster]

::eagerness:Tranona, thanks for clarifying things.