Beneteau 331 Rudder Bearing Replacement

[Tmacmi]

Has anyone ever replaced the lower rudder bearing on a Beneteau 331?

I have been told the bronze bearing is mounted on the shaft with 3M 4200.

Alternatively I have seen drawings suggesting it is mounted in the boat and there is a collar on the shaft that bears on the bronze.

If it is mounted in the hull. How did you get it out? I've attached a photo. The bearing has a split suggesting there is some compression to it. I also imagine it would have used some kind of caulk. All of which would make this quite the removal task.

Thanks

[tkeithlu]

Nope, never done that.

Here's a YouTube on replacing the lower bearing on a boat under restoration. Spoiler alert: They had to cut the entire assembly out of the boat, rudder, shaft, log, and collar, and then use a hydraulic press to push the collar off the shaft. They then epoxied it all back into the boat. That sounds horribly surgical, but really it made sense. No way could they get enough force on the shaft (they tried a sledge hammer) while it was in the boat.

Best wishes on it.

[tkeithlu]

I'm sorry, Tmacmi, I just noticed that I didn't copy the link to the YouTube. Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cuIeXGEARYs

[Tmacmi]

Thanks for the reference.

I ended up finding a service technician who used to work at the US factory. In fact he was transferred from France to the factory.

I'll outline his explanation in case anybody else comes along with a similar question.

The problem isn't bearing wear itself.

At the factory, the bearing was simply pushed up inside and then the rudder mounted. Over time the bearing spun in the log and honed it out.

He explained that when you drop the rudder, the bearing will come out with it.

Then you go back up and rebuild the honed out area with thickened epoxy.

Then reset the bearing with adhesive.