Rudder bearing removal

[oil&water]

Alright, today was the day! After soaking in PB Blaster all week, the collar had still not moved. My can of AeroKroil came in Friday, so I liberally applied, yesterday evening and then checked the puller and collar this morning. Nada. So we proceed to heat the collar and bearing with two torches in between tightening the puller and using Freez-Off on the shaft. More AeroKroil and more heat. Baam! More AeroKroil and heat then tension on the puller. Baam again. We repeated numerous times and finally the collar came off and the bearing was not too far behind. We then drove out the rudder and stood back to savor the victory... until we saw the starboard rudder.

Oh well, break for dinner and try again later.

[WayWeGo]

Half way there is better than where you were this morning. Glad to hear you are getting there!

[oil&water]

Thanks Way. I'll be glad to get the other out and start the process of cleaning everything.

[oil&water]

Well if I thought the port rudder was bad, I was in for a rude surprise with the starboard rudder. I got my hopes up when the collar lifted right off, as did the bearing. With nothing holding it in place, it would not budge. Not even a little. I soaked the entrance to the rudder tube in AeroKroil. I tapped the shaft. I then used a 3lb maul and a block of wood to "convince" the rudder out. No love. So I hung it up Saturday night and left it to soak.

Back at it Sunday morning and she hasn't budged at all. I resorted to the wood and maul again. Nothing. So I soaked it again. I hit it with the propane torch. Nada. I tried this routine several more times and left it for later in the afternoon.

I was back at it again Sunday evening. This time with the Mapp torch, AeroKroil, and Freeze Off, as well as reinforcements. I attacked the rudder tapping it back and forth with a rubber mallet. Dad was inside the hull with the wood block and maul. I would super heat the lower tube. He would Freeze Off the rudder post. Then while he was striking the top of the post with the wood and maul I would work the rudder back and forth. We did this six cycles and left it to soak and cool. After dinner, we came back for one more try before the weekend was up. This time I used a four foot pipe clamp to hold the rudder and get more leverage working it back and forth. I twisted the rudder back and forth, back and forth, back and forth until I was dizzy and worn out. Dad commenced to striking the rudder post with a larger wooden boat yard block in a dead blow fashion. I continued working it back and forth. All the time spraying more AeroKroil on the post, both on top and at the bottom. Finally it started dropping, a 1/4", then a 1/2", then an inch, then two; well you get the picture.

An hour later and she was finally out. Holy mackerel. Never did I expect two bronze shafts inside two bronze tubes could be such a miserable pain in the butt. Both posts had what I would consider to be fairly minimal amounts of salt build up on them. Like all things exposed to the inhumane saltwater environment, we are best served to clean well and grease liberally before re-installation.

[WayWeGo]

As I was reading your last post, I thought you were leading up to not getting the rudder out. Glad that was not so!

[oil&water]

Me as well!

[Barrie]

As I was reading your last post, I thought you were leading up to not getting the rudder out. Glad that was not so!

Or bloodshed and busted expensive, hard to replace parts

[oil&water]

At one point I was waiting for the whole rudder mount to drop through the bottom of the boat. It was not a good feeling at all watching the entire back of the hull shutter with each hit. Old barnacles were falling off the vibrations were so intense. I have a whole new respect for fiberglass' strength.

[prowlersfish]

At one point I was waiting for the whole rudder mount to drop through the bottom of the boat. It was not a good feeling at all watching the entire back of the hull shutter with each hit. Old barnacles were falling off the vibrations were so intense. I have a whole new respect for fiberglass' strength.

Look at that area real close . It is the weakest point in the hull , yet its under stress . A bent rudder shaft can flex the hull to the point failure .

[prowlersfish]

4"X6"

[oil&water]

Wow! That is a sad sight. I will examine that area very closely. I've seen so many boats go down due to rudder strikes.

[prowlersfish]

It can be fixed

[larryeddington]

I got lucky with on rudder on old scrap F28, came right out. Not so much for other one. Just cut cross boards, top bearing came out easy on each. Second one used the old reciprocating saw and cut a whole in bottom of old boat and guess what if fell out. Then in shop used press to push the shaft on through bottom bearing and packing gland. All done.

However you could not use the hole adjusting saw like I did. LOL. Still a lot of work and I had no engines or other things in my way.

[Paul - SW Ontario]

Had the same experience...after the original wooden support snapped while underway.

Didn't know why the boat was turning whilst my wheel was not!

Designed this up out of aluminum...maybe overkill, the wood one lasted 42 years...

[Paul - SW Ontario]

Had the same experience...after the original wooden support snapped while underway.

Didn't know why the boat was turning whilst my wheel was not!

Designed this up out of aluminum...maybe overkill, the wood one lasted 42 years...