Rudder Removal

I'm not sure how the CC rudders are, but I gotta imagine there are similarities to my Supra. I was trying to remove my rudder the other night and having trouble. I removed the cotter pin going across the top and loosened the bolt but was still having trouble coaxing it apart. I also tried knocking the key down but it seems like it got tighter. Any thoughts? Here's some pictures of the configuration.

Hi!
Thats a pinch bolt similar to the trunion pinch bolts on PCM motor mounts. just because you loosened the nut does not mean you loosend the bolt. once the nut is loosened and free tap on the bolt with a hammer and make sure the bolt un-pinches the rudder post. Then pry the tiller arm off the rudder post , or use a puller.

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

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

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

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

Can you tell it's Friday?

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?

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?

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.

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:

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?

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.

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..

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

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