Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association

General Com-Pac and Sailing Related Discussions => The "How to DIY" Forum => Topic started by: slode on December 12, 2017, 04:46:37 PM

Title: Rudder Bushing Replacement
Post by: slode on December 12, 2017, 04:46:37 PM
I just replaced the rudder bushings on my Eclipse and have a couple tips that others may find useful. 

After punching the old bushings out with a pin punch I found everything to be pretty worn.  They appeared to be solid bronze.  They were all worn to over 0.317" on the inside diameter.  And the 5/16" bolts were worn were the bushings ride.

I decided to go with a single longer bushing to replace the pair in each boss.  The length of the casting bosses varied a bit but were all just slightly over 1 ΒΌ" so that's the length I went with.
Actual part used McMASTER-CARR 2868T71
https://www.mcmaster.com/#2868t71/=1amzdf0

To further reduce slop I opted for M8 metric bolts in place of the 5/16".  The actual shank diameter on a partially threaded 5/16" bolt can be as small as 0.307".  That's a pretty sloppy fit for this small of shaft.  8mm is couple thousandths over 5/16" and most M8 bolt shanks measure within 0.310-0.312". Just the perfect fit to a true 5/16" bushing.  Actual bolts used were partially threaded M8-1.25 x 80mm long, stainless steel of course.  I thought of using actual 5/16" shaft and threading the ends but that sounded like a lot more work and cost to get the same results.

Assembly was very simple.   I just used a fully threaded bolt with a nut and washer to press the bushings in.  I did this all in my garage but would have no hesitation doing at a slip.  While I had it apart I removed the gudgeon and blasted and re-painted the castings.

The end result is a free turning rudder with almost no slop that I expect to hold up better than the original.


Title: Re: Rudder Bushing Replacement
Post by: TedStrat on December 12, 2017, 06:45:08 PM
Wow...great write up Slode. Having an Eclipse this will come in handy someday soon.
Title: Re: Rudder Bushing Replacement
Post by: Don from Peconic Bay on December 12, 2017, 08:46:43 PM
Great information Slode.  This is on my winter to-do list for my CP16 and this is the exact information I needed.  I think I have to drill out the holes on the 16's gudgeon to 1/2", then the referenced bushings should fit perfectly.  M8 bolts are  a great idea.
Title: Re: Rudder Bushing Replacement
Post by: Jon898 on December 13, 2017, 08:19:36 AM
For people who have the old plastic instead of bronze bushings, the following thread applies (I used it back in 2015):
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=2115.0

Jon