simple transom rudder issue

Fimacca

Fimacca

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hi
I took off my rudder for a refurb - and the 2 mountings -s/s simple pivots - had mashed nylon bushes squished around them. I expect you have to change them each year. they are exactly the same diameter as 15mm copper pipe -
the q is - could I use the copper pipe with plenty grease - as it is soft metal, and will it stop erosion of the s/s hinge and leave minimal damage ? or should I go to annual plastics again ?
 
I'm not sure that you need have a special bearing. A rudder doesn't move that much. My boat has stainless bearings running on a stainless pin.
As Nigel says, copper on stainless may cause more problems than it resolves. It may be worth using a tougher material (Delrin perhaps?) when you get new ones made.
 
Fimacca said:
hi
I took off my rudder for a refurb - and the 2 mountings -s/s simple pivots - had mashed nylon bushes squished around them. I expect you have to change them each year. they are exactly the same diameter as 15mm copper pipe -
the q is - could I use the copper pipe with plenty grease - as it is soft metal, and will it stop erosion of the s/s hinge and leave minimal damage ? or should I go to annual plastics again ?
Click to expand...
You do not state inside & outside diameter. But would pieces of Osma 15mm pipe do?
 
I'd be surprised if plastic bearings only lasted a year as you aren't talking massive loads or huge amounts of movement, delrin/acetal ones should last years

If they are only the size of 15mm copper pipe send me the measurements and for a bit in an RNLI tin I'll turn you a couple up from delrin
 
thanks dinghyman. I never heard of delrin, but where the poly ones have mashed there is a slight groove cut in the s/s
bracket - for all i know may have taken 5 yrs to get like that. Plastic pipe would do but I will take you up on your offer - thanks !
Exactly the dimensions of standard 15mm copper pipe - in a length of 4cm. 2 pieces needed.
donation will be made...... FM
 
My trailer sailer has a transom mounted rudder but it lives ona swing mooring half the year. It has and Ali swing rudder frame with stainless steel pintle pins. Wear of the Ali has been a problem over the years. It has been filled with weld and drilled some time back. later a process of enlarging the pin to minimise free play.
It is the bottom pintle which gets the wear mostly due to constant movement in boat wash and waves even though tiller is tied off.
I have to deal with it again this coming haul out. The plastic insert would be ideal and I would recommend you replace with similar on your boat. good luck olewill
 
Copper and 316 stainless steel are only about 0.2 volts apart in the galvanic series and copper ferules are used on stainless steel rigging. I would therefore not expect any problems due to being "dissimilar metals" if used to bush the stainless steel rudder fittings.
 
I use a lot of delrin/acetal - http://www2.dupont.com/Plastics/en_US/Products/Delrin/Delrin.html - Acetal & Delrin they are actually slightly different products but the names seem to be interchangeable at a lot of suppliers, Delrin is slightly better quality and very slightly more expensive but interchangeable for most uses.

Its great stuff to machine, can be polished to a good finish, and we use it for bearings and as a general purpose, i.e. cheaper, alternative for aluminium in our dive light battery canisters and torches

I got your PM and will PM you when I pop them in the post, hopefully just after the weekend
 
great - tried a few places today for like - hard to find.
interesting comment re copper and steel - but when they degrade suspect a tangle of metal rather than something better suited.

thanks DM
 
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