Seized rudder really tight

I had a seized rudder a couple of years ago and the only way we could get it out was with a couple of strong blokes pulling the rudder back and forward a few degrees whilst pulling it downwards. I was also worried that it was going to wrench the bearing housing out of the bottom of the hull but, thankfully, it didn't.

Richard
 
Start dosing the shaft with penetrating oil , whatever way it's stuck it will help. Is there a greaser on the tube? My boat had terribly stiff steering when I bought it turned out the grease in the resevoir had separated, the oil risen tohe top of it leaving a thick putty to seize it up, cleaned out and plenty back and forth and it's great.
 
seaangler23 said:
Start dosing the shaft with penetrating oil , whatever way it's stuck it will help. Is there a greaser on the tube? My boat had terribly stiff steering when I bought it turned out the grease in the resevoir had separated, the oil risen tohe top of it leaving a thick putty to seize it up, cleaned out and plenty back and forth and it's great.
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I have started this, is there a good one that penetrates better than others.
No greaser I am afraid
 
Do you know what the bearing is? perhaps It could be:-

Nylon - swollen in water,in which case Nylon is the wrong material anyway & needs changing. I think one would use Tufnol Whale or Delrin or similar

Bronze- corrosion, unlikely

Rollers-full of dried grease or broken rollers
Probably rollers, but my rollers do not have any grease , relying on water lubrication. Getting them clean would need to be disassembled, cleaned & refitted if Ok, but a new bearing cage can be bought for circa £100-00 & would be sensible option due to age & possible damage during easing process
 
anoccasionalyachtsman said:
Mix acetone and gear oil (eg EP90) 50/50 and it's as good as, if not better than any of the main brands. Do not use WD40 - it isn't a lubricant.
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WD do now produce a penetrating oil but only some vendors stock it and the Other WD product range. No idea how good it is. There are about 5 products in different coloured cans.
 
Bilgediver said:
WD do now produce a penetrating oil but only some vendors stock it and the Other WD product range. No idea how good it is. There are about 5 products in different coloured cans.
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I have ordered some plus gas as that used to be good stuff and I will get some acetone to mix and try, I have some photos of the top I will put on shortly.
 
I have added some photos one shows the rudder hanging the other two are the top fittings the rudder should just come out. I have removed the screws from the top fitting I was going to use a puller but read that this may be screwed onto the rudder tube?

Any one know. Its all a bit dirty as I had a couple of people look and lots of oil
Rudder fitting2.jpgRudder (2).jpgRudder fitting.jpg
 
Daydream believer said:
Do you know what the bearing is? perhaps It could be:-

Nylon - swollen in water,in which case Nylon is the wrong material anyway & needs changing. I think one would use Tufnol Whale or Delrin or similar

Bronze- corrosion, unlikely

Rollers-full of dried grease or broken rollers
Probably rollers, but my rollers do not have any grease , relying on water lubrication. Getting them clean would need to be disassembled, cleaned & refitted if Ok, but a new bearing cage can be bought for circa £100-00 & would be sensible option due to age & possible damage during easing process
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I think this is simple, a top bearing, hopefully bronze but possible steel, and bottom that fits into a cup on the skeg shoe, that was slightly seized but not as bas as the shaft

Problem is there is little or no access and its glassed in.
I suspect the tube and the shaft are corroded together.
 
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paulieraw said:
How long do you give it?
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Keep squirting over a couple of days; Then give the rudder a good heave, possibly with two bits of wood clamped to it, to give some leverage.

Yours looks a bit like one from an early Benny that someone bought in. But his bits were SS and the nylon liner had swollen enough to make it impossible to steer the boat. The assembly was not glassed in, but bolted, so a quick skim in the lathe opened it up to a clearance fit. Working fine a year later. Any further trouble and he gets a Delrin liner.
 
Looking at the pics, are you not better putting the tiller back on and trying to work the thing loose by applying force to the tiller? I'm not familiar with the boat, but I'm assuming you have a tube up top and a bearing at the bottom. Now the bottom bearing is off, any force applied to the rudder itself is just going to "jam" the shaft in the tube anyway surely?
 
I would agree with that. And I would be wary putting a lot of force on the rudder as it may not be well attached to the stock after all this time
 
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