In Search of Rod Ends

[DSW]

Perhaps this is a starting point.
https://yachtsteeringservices.com/product/ss05016/

[deblen]

Google "heim joint" N. America (SAE)
or "rose joint" EU. (metric)

https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/...4-16-578-31189

[Falbala60]

I am a machinery designer and used many times ...

Rod ends

Don't know how they will last in marine environment, but for machinery they are very good... and there is a NAME behind !

[captlloyd]

Summit Racing.com. Lots of them.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Wulf

I’d forget trying to match up to the originals and just change to heim joints. Robust and readily available in pretty much any materials, sizes, thread configurations etc.

Do this, and you will be glad that you did.

[Bruno Andolfatto]

"rose joints" from most automotive "go fast " outlets

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by 44'cruisingcat

There's a reasonable chance they're Ford Cortina rod ends. They're still about the cheapest around and readily available.

could well be early Cortina up to about mk3, ( mid / late 70s ) after that they went metric , or also perhaps BMC Mini or MGB etc .. consider,, before changing to another type of ball joint remember that the original ball joint has a tapered stub and a tapered to accommodate hole...

[geoffr]

Mike,

Yes there are lots out there - but I haven't been able to find the female 9-16-18 thread...

Originally Posted by Mike Paget

I just googled yacht steering rod ends. looked at images and found loads
Mike

[geoffr]

Falbala,

Thanks for the link - I would be ok with SKF (I'm using their bearings on our outdrive which I"m happy with)... on their page I didn't see any imperial (9/16 female) so I've e-mailed to see if I'm just missing something.

thanks!

Originally Posted by Falbala60

I am a machinery designer and used many times ...

Rod ends

Don't know how they will last in marine environment, but for machinery they are very good... and there is a NAME behind !

[rosco4271]

Originally Posted by geoffr

I'm trying to find two replacement rod-ends for our Prout Snowgoose 37. I started out trying to find stainless and then non-stainless, but I"m still coming up short - does anyone know where I can find rod-ends as follows:

• Female thread 9/16 - 18
• one LH thread, other RH thread
• Approx 3" from end to center hole

I can work with a built in stud as shown below (current) or a hole for a bolt.

Go to a car wrecker with the rod end from the photo its a sealed unit probably off a ford small car rear end drive in australia its probably a ford Cortina 1970 ish

[mrm]

Originally Posted by geoffr

Falbala,

Thanks for the link - I would be ok with SKF (I'm using their bearings on our outdrive which I"m happy with)... on their page I didn't see any imperial (9/16 female) so I've e-mailed to see if I'm just missing something.

thanks!

As I understand, the rod alignment is done once, on the hard and, once fixed, never touched again. Besides, you have an advantage of having the length already set and known as you have the original tie bar.
So I have a suggestion: if no fine tuning while under way is required, pick a length of steel tube, have a standard RH female thread done on both ends and use two identical heim joints on each end. One side can be fixed with red thread lock compound and a counter nut. The other remains adjustable. This is also easier on carrying spares, as you need only RH threaded part.
Should any tuning become necessary, just disconnect the adjustable side joint from the arm and adjust the length. Admittedly, adjustments will be limited to halves of thread pitch.

[jimbunyard]

9/16" is a bit of a bastard size, the progression is 7/16, 1/2, 5/8, 3/4... I found one 9/16", and it was available in male and right hand thread only, go figure.

Probably the simplest option would be to get some standard 1/2" stainless spherical rod ends from the local bearing shop, or Amacon, and drill and tap them to 9/16...I'm wagering a 9/16 left hand tap will be easier to find than a 9/16 left hand female heim joint...

[Jim Cate]

Dunno if it has any bearing on the matter, but 9/16 inch is essentially identical to 14 mm. Is it possible that you are searching for the wrong thing in your perusal of catalogs?

Jim

[Cherod]

Originally Posted by rosco4271

Go to a car wrecker with the rod end from the photo its a sealed unit probably off a ford small car rear end drive in australia its probably a ford Cortina 1970 ish

See post #13 , ( tho didn’t show much interest )

[geoffr]

I just spoke with a rep from moog and they only have one which is female 9/16-18, but it's only a right hand thread. I'm 99% sure I have one side left, the other right (I'll be double checking this weekend).