rudder pivot hole
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: General
Forum Name: Repair & maintenance
Forum Discription: Questions & tips on the subject
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3881
Printed Date: 11 May 25 at 10:21pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: rudder pivot hole
Posted By: tmoore
Subject: rudder pivot hole
Date Posted: 29 Jan 08 at 10:35pm
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after sailing my 300 a few times and realising each time i had some weather helm unless i loosened the bolt right off, swung the rudder blade down hard until it when 'thunk' on the bottom stop and then tightening the bolt right up. if i pull it down using the downhaul rope i get HUGE amounts of weather helm. could this be the problem? if so how do i sort it out?
------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Replies:
Posted By: stuarthop
Date Posted: 29 Jan 08 at 11:11pm
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measure where the centre of the hole is/should be and write it down so you dont forget. Fill the hole with epoxy mixed with microbaloons, once hard sand off any excess and drill a new hole, the correct size and in the correct position. ------------- |
Posted By: Ross
Date Posted: 29 Jan 08 at 11:22pm
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I have the same sort of issue except I have a butterfly twisty thingy as well as a seporate pin that goes through the stock and blade to hold it in place. Mine has started to eat into the blade a bit and as a result the blade is rising (intense Cherub blasting...). At the moment there is thin pin in the high load a part of the blade so I'm putting a new fatter pin much nearer the piviot=less load=no blade munching=happy sailing. ------------- Ross If you can't carry it, don't sail it! |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 30 Jan 08 at 6:15pm
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would it be worth enlarging the hole before filling it so that it has like a tube of this epoxy where the bolt travels through. by epoxy i assume you meant the yellow/orange globby stuff which is impossible to sand (well slow). also, what are the microbaloons things? and where would i get them from? thank tom ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: alstorer
Date Posted: 30 Jan 08 at 7:06pm
| Microballoons are small spheres, of varying materials. Added to an epoxy (or other resin, for that matter, but you're best off with a marine grade epoxy) they make for a good filler that's much easier to sand. However, that's where helpfulness runs out, as at work we buy them in large amounts from chemical suppliers. |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 30 Jan 08 at 7:09pm
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Maybe the downhaul isn't tight enough so the rudder isn't going down the way? Happened to me on the rs 600.
------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: craiggo
Date Posted: 30 Jan 08 at 7:16pm
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Repairs for this have already been suggested. Open out the hole slightly, fill with epoxy (West & Colloidal Silica, or Sp & microballoons), then re-drill a new hole in the right place. Its also a good idea to fit a plastic tube over the bolt, if you can find one, it will help spread the load a bit and slow down future wear. Best thing to do is ease off the wing nut before you pull the rudder down and then before you get any speed up, tighten the wingnut as much as you can. When you pull the board up you'll need to ease the wingnut again.
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Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 30 Jan 08 at 7:17pm
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you mean im not pulling the rope down all the way??? im not sure it is that as whenever i 'throw' the blade downwards and it thunks against the stop its fine, when i try and pull it down using the rope i get loads of weather helm. This led me to investigate. So would this be the cause? or can i forget it and put it all back together? tom ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: Fin.
Date Posted: 04 Feb 08 at 10:38am
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Hi Tom The blade must not be allowed to raise at all, this is where the weather helm comes from. I had similar problem with a old RS200. After launching and pulling on the downhaul, I'd sail (depowered) till clear, then stretch over the stern and grab a hold of the trailing edge of the rudder(underwater). then, I'd gently push it forward, to ensure it was hard against the rudder stock. Tighten both wing-nut and downhaul... then go sailing. NOTE - there used to be a small piece inside the stock preventing the front of the blade bashing into the stock. this was removed to enable the blade to go forward as much as possible. i.e If not gentle when not there; when lowering blade stock will cut a small groove into top of blade.
. |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 04 Feb 08 at 5:22pm
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yes, the blade has that on the top. it looks as if the top layer of the foil is just peeling slightly. i was going to sort that out aswell. but thought getting the hole right was more important. tom ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |
Posted By: Smight at BBSC
Date Posted: 04 Feb 08 at 5:44pm
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No i mean the downhaul purchase is too short so that when you max out the downhaul the rudder isn't all the way down. ------------- RS600 988 |
Posted By: tmoore
Date Posted: 04 Feb 08 at 7:48pm
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if only it was that simple. unfortunately no, i checked that out.the only reason that leads me to believe the hole is to blame is the difference when pulling down with rope instead of 'throwing' blade down underwater. ------------- Landlocked in Africa RS300 - 410 Firefly F517 - Nutshell Micro Magic RC yacht - Eclipse |