[C320-list] stiff wheel

[Pat Ireland]

The rudder shaft passes through a packing gland in the lazarette so it is
not likely that water from the deck plate would have passed down the
outside or the shaft and into the support tube.  But thawing everything out
is simple and worth eliminating as a possible failure mode.  Binding in the
steering gear may also be the cause.  Cold weather would make the chain and
cable shorter.  Questionable, but possible.  It's not too difficult to
loosen the cable on the quadrant and see if the binding is in the steering
linkage or the rudder post.

What may be the problem is the failure that we found on Cherie.  As you
describe, we could still move the rudder with the wheel, but it was very
difficult to turn.   What we found when we dropped the rudder was teflon
tape wrapped around the shaft at the lower end.  The tape had shredded and
restricted the clearance between the rudder support tube and the rudder
shaft.  The tape was likely installed at initial build.  We found grinder
tracks on the shaft that may have been the reason for adding the tape.  We
resolved by polishing the shaft and re-installing the assembly.   To my
knowledge no one else has reported this failure, so it may have been a one
off.  It certainly is not a known assembly flaw.  Please add to the
collective knowledge  and post back your findings.

On Mon, Feb 6, 2012 at 6:33 AM, Chris Burti <clburti at gmail.com> wrote:

> One more thing...the rudder post runs inside of a rudder tube it can
> be accessed at the top under the deck plate aft of the wheel. These
> deck plates often leak...if there was any water in the tube, it likely
> froze and made your steering stiff (it would act just like the
> brake)...and it would not warm up and melt as fast any other ice on
> the boat.
>
> Check it again on a warm day or run a heater in the aft lazarette to
> see if derostifg the rudder tube has any beneficial effect.
>
> On Sun, Feb 5, 2012 at 12:08 PM, Jack McDonough <mcdonough5 at verizon.net>
> wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Sloane" <
> southsoundbill at gmail.com>
> > To: <C320-List at catalina320.com>
> > Sent: Sunday, February 05, 2012 11:30 AM
> > Subject: [C320-list] stiff wheel
> >
> >
> >
> >> I took 'Endless Summer' out for a sail yesterday. The temperature was 30
> >> degrees in the morning, but sunny. There was ice on the deck and seats,
> >> but
> >> after we got out, the ice melted away. The steering wheel felt like it
> had
> >> the brake on. I checked that. It was off. The wheel turns but with much
> >> more force needed than normal.
> >>
> >> Is this because of the temperature?  I am not sure how the wheel moves
> the
> >> rubber. Is it mechanical or hydraulic?
> >>
> >> Thanks.
> >>
> >> Bill Sloane
> >> Olympia, Washington
> >> C-320 No. 554 'Endless Summer'
> >
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Chris Burti
> Farmville, NC
>