Author Topic: Lower rudder bearing seizure problem  (Read 851 times)

PEA-JAY

  • Able Seaman
  • ****
  • Posts: 193
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • Boat Model: B-Cruiser 39
  • Boat Year: 2005
Lower rudder bearing seizure problem
« on: September 25 2022, 22:17 »
I wish to share that after I resized the lower nylon bearing (in place) a number of times in my early years of ownership, the rudder stock stopped seizing in the bearing. It’s still the original one since 2005. I was told that nylon can only absorb a finite amount of water and at that point size will stabilize. I hope many owners will benefit from this information!

hollmanr

  • Cadet
  • *
  • Posts: 7
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • Boat Model: 32
  • Boat Year: 2005
Re: Lower rudder bearing seizure problem
« Reply #1 on: September 27 2022, 09:04 »
Hi, thanks for sharing - can you expand on how you resized the lower bearing ? Thanks ! Roland

PEA-JAY

  • Able Seaman
  • ****
  • Posts: 193
  • Karma: +0/-0
  • Boat Model: B-Cruiser 39
  • Boat Year: 2005
Re: Lower rudder bearing seizure problem
« Reply #2 on: September 28 2022, 05:14 »
I used a short piece of PVC drain pipe machined to the size of the rudder stock as a guide and a rotary sanding wheel with a slightly smaller o/d to the nylon bearing’s i/d to sand the bearing internally in place. I dropped the rudder a number of times in the initial years until the bush stopped absorbing water. I don’t think I’ve dropped the rudder in at least 8 years.