Resistance in Helm
 

other than a worn rudder bearing, what are other possibilities for this situation?

Re: resistance in helm
 

Huh? Corrosion or junk in the wheel bearings chain or idler pulleys, something stuck in the top or bottom of the rudder shaft, cable is tensioned too tightly (if you have a cable system), water too viscous ;-)

Michael

Re: resistance in helm
 

Seized bearing in pedestal or turning blocks. Rope wedged between rudder and hull.

Re: resistance in helm
 

Corroded cables, chain, mis-aligned or corroded turning blocks, etc. In short, just about any part of your particular steering gear could be the culprit, or it could be multiple items adding up to a problem.

It may help if you described the steering system on your boat - somebody might have had similar issues with a similar system, and can offer advice.

Chris

Re: resistance in helm
 

Check the pedestal brake, they do vibrate down tighter..

Re: resistance in helm
 

Possibly lubrication needed somewhere.

Re: resistance in helm
 

How long since you last hauled and anti fouled?

I had the problem a few months ago and did a splash over the side and took off the barnicles on the rudder post and all the little crittery bits I could see and find. Plus they like the top of the rudder and scratch the hull.

The water was so cold when I was doing it.... that made me wonder.... It was far colder water than I had been used to in Asia and the Red Sea and I was splonked into the Med in Turkey in April.

The helm got easier as the water got warmer.

Have you just splashed into cold water?

Re: resistance in helm
 

two points where resistance can accumulate are the steering wheel axel bearing, and the brass sheaves that run back to the quadrant.

before you check that stuff, make certain you're not aground.

Re: resistance in helm
 

The cable could have jumped the quadrant, could have a worn cable, the chain inside the steering column may need to be greased, worn rudder bearing, checking by moving the rudder by hand and seeing if it turns freely without friction or seems to be rubbing.

All the best and stay safe .....

Re: resistance in helm
 

That's a good one, I'm going to have to rememeber this one. Lots to learn here :thumb:

Re: resistance in helm
 

unfortunately, knowledge like that comes from years of experience.

Re: resistance in helm
 

Mark, just splashed last week, but the problem pre-dated the haulout. I took a little slack out of the cables and that problem seems to have started around then. I should have suspected a connection, but I wasn't aware that cable tension could cause that problem.

It's an Edson pedestal, btw.

Re: resistance in helm
 

sometimes bearings (if made from the wrong material) can swell up over time and prevent easy movement in the rudder. a nylon bearing is particularly prone to this, whereas delrin is a much more suitable material (albeit much more expensive)

Re: resistance in helm
 

Shaft bent, foil warped, something stuck in between, gears, grease?

b.

Steering service?
 

If you can find a manufacturer's manual for your steering there could be a service procedure.

The main problem may be disassembling the top part of the pedestal as the SS machine screws can "freeze" in the casting, so that great skill is required to remove them.

Some things to check: correct cable size, pulleys properly aligned, no " "meathooks" in the cables (run a soft cloth along the cable), no physical damage and bearings (esp. pedestal) properly lubricated.

Boracay has a grease nipple in the rudder tube that takes a huge amount of expensive grease.

I used Inox Lanox lanolin spray, but this was not recommended by the steering manufacturer, nor does the spray maker specifically recommend it for yacht steering.