Rudder bearings on F32.

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1

Posted by Russell Bonham (rabonham2000@…>)

My Freedom 32 “Pelagic”, hull # 122, has slightly loose rudder
bearings. The yard thinks they are good enough for another season or
two. Does anybody know what types of bearings were used in this model
(1991)? Also, are replacement bearings available, and at what cost?

2

Posted by ADScott (ADScott@…>)

Have you tightened the bolt circle on the coupling around the rudder
shaft? I’m betting you can take the play out of it by simply tightening
the coupling; I did.

Al Scott
F-32 MECORIAN

3

Posted by rick_simonds (rick_simonds@…>)

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, ADScott <ADScott@f…>
wrote:

Have you tightened the bolt circle on the coupling around the
rudder
shaft? I’m betting you can take the play out of it by simply
tightening
the coupling; I did.

Al Scott
F-32 MECORIAN

I think Al is right, all you can do is replace the packing and/or
snug up the bolts and my guess is your packing might be worn out or
maybe even gone. In mine (hull #59) there isn’t a mechanical bearing,
there’s just a smooth stainless steel sleeve molded onto the
rudderpost that slides against 2 rings of conventional half inch
(9/16? I`m not sure) flax packing held by the bolt ring. Snugging the
bolts presses on the flax packing to seal out the water but still let
the rudderpost turn freely, exactly like to prop shaft stuffing box.

New packing costs maybe $10 but the real trick is to evenly snug all
8 separate bolts enough to seal the water out but not so tight to
feel drag on the wheel. And to do so with a wrench while lying on
your belly on the aft bunk and not being at the wheel to try it.

If you can figure out a good way to do that, let me know.

4

Posted by Russell Bonham (rabonham2000@…>)

Thanks for the help!

Russ (“Pelagic”)
— rick_simonds <rick_simonds@…> wrote:

— In freedomyachts2003@yahoogroups.com, ADScott
<ADScott@f…>
wrote:

Have you tightened the bolt circle on the coupling
around the
rudder
shaft? I’m betting you can take the play out of
it by simply
tightening
the coupling; I did.

Al Scott
F-32 MECORIAN

I think Al is right, all you can do is replace the
packing and/or
snug up the bolts and my guess is your packing might
be worn out or
maybe even gone. In mine (hull #59) there isn’t a
mechanical bearing,
there’s just a smooth stainless steel sleeve molded
onto the
rudderpost that slides against 2 rings of
conventional half inch
(9/16? I`m not sure) flax packing held by the bolt
ring. Snugging the
bolts presses on the flax packing to seal out the
water but still let
the rudderpost turn freely, exactly like to prop
shaft stuffing box.

New packing costs maybe $10 but the real trick is to
evenly snug all
8 separate bolts enough to seal the water out but
not so tight to
feel drag on the wheel. And to do so with a wrench
while lying on
your belly on the aft bunk and not being at the
wheel to try it.

If you can figure out a good way to do that, let me
know.


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