Rudder problems

[syfuga]

Fuga (Dehler 41DS) has just been re-launched after 6 months on the hard in Cagliari. We noticed the rudder was very stiff but assumed it would free up when in the water. No such luck! On reference to the 'book' Dehler recommend extracting the rudder, cleaning and greasing every 5 years.

Does anyone have experience of these 'pendulum' bearings, and how easy is it to extract and replace them, then get the rudder re-hung?

 

[FlorealIII]

Are you sure you have a bearing around the rudder axis ?
I doubt it because this bearing is often in the water and greasing is useless then !
We serviced the pendulum rudder on an oceanis 440 this winter and there was no bearing just a copper bushing around the axis , this bushing was glued inside the axis hole with special polyurethane glue . The axis was held in place by two shaft through the axis . The copper bushing was splitted and you had to press it together with scotch tape around the axis before aplying the glue , to make a nice fit around the axis . To remove and replace the rudder we had to dig a hole 1 m deep and needed a jack and 3 persons ( 1 on top to guide 2 down under to take the rudder which was rather heavy ) .
The bushing as you can understand is water greased !

 

[rudolph_hart]

Binding rudders is not unusual in Dehlers. I'm on my 3rd one (a 35), which hasn't developed the problem yet, but both my previous two (34's) did, and I dropped the rudder and replaced the bearings (made up locally).

The problem is caused by water absorbtion by the nylon bearings.

I suggest you look through the forum on the UK owners website, where there has been several 'rudder bearing replacement' posts: www.dehlerowners.co.uk

Better still, there is an excellent Dutch site, with a large membership
www.dehlerclub.nl

If you email Wilfred Oude Vrielink at: techniek@dehelerclub.nl you will find him extremely helpful & knowlegeable. He is their technical guru.

Hope this helps.

 

[syfuga]

Just to come back on this... as it seems people do hit the problem and the same bearings are used on Bendy Bavs..

I drilled and tapped the rudderstock for an 8mm thread, above the waterline but below the seal. I used a large hyperdermic syringe, threaded 8mm, to inject first acid (household descaler - muriatic acid), paused, flushed with lots of water, then followed up with vegetable oil. Finally sealed hole with screw and sealant.

Result - perfect!! I think most probably caused by limescale and coral work deposits drying out over winter.

Hope this helps someone.

Thanks for the suggestions.