Rudder Removal

Rick,

No, I haven't. I messed with a it a bit, but moved on. I'm going to need to revisit the removal before too long. I want to get it apart so I can replace the packing. I may buy a basic puller and see if I can get it apart, when I get to that stage.

I haven't messed with the rudder any more yet, but I'll post what it took to get it off once I do.

Okie,
    Please don't let this thread die. I for one am curious to see how this assembly comes apart.

Fl Inboards wrote: Bigger hammer is always better.....

I think Okie is being to nice to it!! Call it a few choice names, swear at it and threaten it with replacement and re-cycling..

I talked to Skier's Choice and the picture above represents it pretty good from their description. They also said that when it was tightened down it tends to rotate and pinch the rudder shaft. They said I need to tap it out and rotate it to get it where the cut out is aligned with the rudder shaft and I should be able to get the rudder loose. I'm suspecting I may still need a puller, but I'm going to give it one more shot without it.

Guys, good info! I'm going to try calling skiers choice (Supra) today too. Joel, that last post and picture is pretty close. It does protrude all the way through. With the nut off I'm able to hammer the bolt until there is about equal parts of the rod sticking out on each side. The side that doesn't have a nut is threaded too, but a coarse thread whereas the nut side is a fine thread. I'm thinking maybe I just need to have it centered then pull it. If I hammer it all the way to the right it stops at a point and I'm unable to turn it to try to thread it out. I don't really have anything in the way of a puller. What type of puller should I look at getting?

98LouisvilleKY wrote: Is that a pinch bolt? There is no slot in the picture allowing the tighening of the bolt/nut to "pinch" anything. I would guess that bolt's gotta come out before the rudder is going to.

I think you're thinking of a clamp-style setup. Note there is no head to the bolt. I'm guessing this is what's going on- behold the pinch bolt:

Is that a pinch bolt? There is no slot in the picture allowing the tighening of the bolt/nut to "pinch" anything. I would guess that bolt's gotta come out before the rudder is going to.

Andy,
Driving the key down probably wasn't a good idea. If the key way in the rudder shaft was cut with a circular cutter rather than a end mill, it gets shallow till there's no key way. If this is the case, then driving the key into the point where it starts to become shallow will force the key up against the arm tightening it. It looks like the key is blind (can't get to the other end) so you'll have to live with it. But, as you drive the bolt out and it comes to this "stop", from there have you tried turning it to see if it will try to unthread?

Well, no luck still. The bolt doesn't want to seem to come out. It can be easily tapped to one side until about mid way and then it comes to a stop. The sound becomes very solid like it is hitting some sort of shoulder. I tried tapping the key and it seems like it will tap down and get looser, but it also hits a stop. Even with the bolt centered and the key tapped down, the whole thing doesn't seem to want to budge. Any other thoughts?

Maybe I need to heat it?

Can you tell it's Friday?

davee40 wrote: have your wife hold it while you smack it

I can tell It's going to be along winter!

Yes , you need to support the rubber from the underside. You do not want it to hit the ground. Build a nest under it.

Donald

the prop puller might fit in there not sure...
or something like this...