Rudder Problems

[dignity]

Before I go any further this is completely my fault!

Built my boat last year, fitted a Vetus rudder gland, into which I fitted the rudder/stock which I fabricated from steel. This morning I've tried the steering 'Stuck solid', obviously the steel has slightly corroded and siezed in the gland. I'm going to drill the gland and tap a grease nipple into it, but can anyone recommend something to initially free the rudder stock (Apart from WD40) tried it!

Next year the boat will be dry-docked and I'll fit a stainless stock, so this problem shouldn't occur again.

Any suggestions would be gratefully received.


(It serves myself right for been a tight northerner and not doing it properly in the first instance).

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[philwebb]

Hi, Is your boat floating in salt water? What material is the gland made from?
Is it a nylon bearing? I made up some new rudder bearings from nylon impregnated
with carbon disulphide lubricant but made them to too close a tolerance. I had to ream them
out to get my rudder stock to fit initially, but after a seasons use they have got tight again
probably by water absorbtion. (The material was supposed to have low absorbtion) I use WD40
from time to time but will have to dry the boat out , remove the rudder and ream out the bearings
again.
Regards,
Phil (another tight northener)

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[dignity]

She's mainly in fresh water, gland is brass with 2 o-rings top and bottom, I can replace the o-rings but need to free the rudder stock first, I'm very reluctant to just use brute force!

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[Guest]

I've always found diesel to be very good at freeing off corroded parts (ideally by leaving offending bits in a bucket/ vat of diesel for extended periods). If you can get some deisel to run down the stock you may find it works - tends to stick around for a bit longer than WD40.

Alternatively, can you apply heat to the offending parts??

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[kgi]

I think i woul be tempted to try a section of inner tube clamped around the top of the rudder post filled with diesel, maybe a very large funnel jubilee clipped to the top of the rudder tube, but you get the idea, fill with diesel.....and wait.......keith

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[lezgar]

It's not a joke. Try with Coca Cola. If you can soak the rust parts with Coca Cola, Coca cola will "eat" the rust away

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[AndrewB]

I have exactly the same problem. Fine in the water, but seizes up after about 2 weeks out. My solution is simply to drop the rudder whenever laying up ashore. It soon becomes routine. I've considered but rejected switching to stainless. Too likely to suffer crevice corrosion in the anerobic conditions within the gland. In rough weather the rudder post can take heavy loads, and its the one thing above almost anything else that I don't want failing on me.

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[dignity]

Unfortunately the way I've designed it the gland is constantly out of the water, this is probably why I'm having the problem. Hopefully if I can free it, and then pack with grease it will solve the problem.

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