Hi Erik,
Rudder play in the Santana 22 is a common thing. Depending on the
severity of the play, it shouldn't affect performance. If it's bad,
then it'll only get worse over time as the brass and/or bronze
bearings you may have found in your later-model tuna will become more
oval. Earlier models had no bearings but just the rudder tube. I have
some play in mine as well (#561), but I have not taken the tiller head
apart yet to determine if there are bearings in there.
I have not seen the bearings you're indicating, but if there are two
(top and bottom of rudder tube), and they are not epoxied in
(important!), the top should be able to be removed with an automotive
gear puller, one that has a threaded center piece that you can fit a
washer and nut onto the end. Make your own washer out of a steel plate
about 1" wide (no wider than the rudder post) and long enough to span
the rudder tube inside dimension, and a slot or hole in the center
wide enough to accept the width of the puller shaft. Then, thread the
nut onto the end. Use blocks stacked on the cockpit floor for the legs
of the puller to push against.
Once the top bearing is out, you should be able to pound the lower
bearing out from the top using a mallet and a length of wood (such as
a closet hanger pole or broomstick end).
Various methods exist on how to remedy the situation. Replacing
bearings is a different story. You may want to contact Schock and see
if there are replacements (I didn't see any in their parts catalog,
but a phone call might prove more valuable).
The method I think might work well is replacing your bearings with an
epoxy bearing version that you create yourself by adding graphite
powder to your epoxy mix. On the Santana 22 fleet website, under the
"Articles" section, there is a link named "Maintenance Tip: Rudder
"Play"" in which Mark Lowry discusses how to do this procedure. It's
actually easier than it seems. I employed this method on another boat
(not a Santana 22) and had results very similar to those that Mark
discusses in his entry to that article. You can find more info on this
type of thing by getting one of the West System Epoxy "how-to" books
from Gougeon Brothers. They are usually about $10 at Svendsen's or
West Marine. They are really good about education. Here are some how-
to guides: http://www.westsystem.com/ss/use-guides/. You're also bound
to find info on how to do this at the Gougeon Brothers' Epoxyworks
magazine, which is devoted to working with epoxy. Sniff around the
online version here: http://www.epoxyworks.com/.
Finally, you may want to talk to Steve at Seal's Spar and Rigging.
He's got loads of experience with these boats. Contact page is here: http://www.sealsspars.com/contact.html
I hope the info helps.
charlie
#561, "Star Kissed"
On Feb 10, 2010, at 4:00 PM, Erik Hauge wrote:
Hi All,
I have a question to the fleet regarding rudder bearings. I recently
dropped the rudder out on my S22 #454, as there is a large amount of
play in the rudder. I was under the impression that Santana 22’s did
not have any rudder bearings (other than a fiberglass tube). I found
that my boat has bronze rudder bearings and they are quite worn. I
have two questions:
1. Does anyone have any experience or good ideas on removing these
bearings?
2. Are replacement bearings available anywhere?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Erik
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