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DougRivers
63 Posts |
 Posted - 14 Jul 2004 : 15:48:13
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Some will know that my lower pintle broke at the Nationals. This was a different problem to 18 months ago when the rudder could fall off of the shorter lower pintle (and solved when I replaced the short pintle with a long one and turned the retaining clip to vertical). This time the pintle just sheared inside the casting, stress I guess. Funnily enough Mike Beggs had the same problem the previous week, so beware! Unfortunately when dismantling the rudder from stock to repair I also discovered a crack in the rudder inside the bolt hole. Hey ho another £180 for a new rudder. I suggest others should check this from time to time.
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PGuignabaudet
United Kingdom
97 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 00:02:21
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Could the crack have been caused by the rudder hitting the bottom?
I have fitted an auto-release clamcleat CL257 on my rudder. If it hits the bottow, it will kick up rather than take the stress.
Regards,
Pascal |
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Pete
49 Posts |
Posted - 15 Jul 2004 : 11:13:23
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When sailing do you have the wing-nut type clamps tight or loose? I have been sailing with these loose(ish) to allow the rudder to come up if we hit the bottom(auto-release cleat fitted) and relying on the downhaul to keep it in position. I have been told that keen racers will clamp the rudder tight to stop it moving with any give in the downhaul.
I was wondering whether this would make a difference to the amount of vibration/stress on the pintles??
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2004 : 14:24:01
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| Had the auto cleat (but managed to break it!). The rudder has never hit the bottom with the downhaul tight in the cleat but has hit a few times when just in the clamps. I think the more likely reason for the strain is sailing with the rudder not fully down (into / away from the beach etc). The pressure on the tiller is enormous if the rudder is up only a few mm. |
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 16 Jul 2004 : 14:27:03
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Tight as I can get them for the reason you outline.
Its interesting that Mike Beggs had exactly the same pintle breakage problem the previous week with a boat a similar age. I think it is just an age/use problem that is worth looking out for. I will change the lower pintle every 2 seasons from now on. |
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DBurnett
38 Posts |
Posted - 26 Jul 2004 : 12:56:23
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I had the same thing happen just a few weeks back.. look for the message trail..
The pintles are common with other boats such as the L4000 which ALL suffer the same problems with pintle shearing. The problem is the quality of the Stainless steel used for the pins... there are several grades, some more brittle than others... this is the cheap stuff I guess... The pinltes can be replaced fairly easily.....
And I always have the rudder wing nut tight.. if it's loose then the rudder slips back a little and gives some funny weather and lee helm effects at the wrong time!
Cheers
Dave |
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DougRivers
63 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2004 : 11:11:24
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| Interesting. Do you mean that you can just replace the pintle within the fitting - I did see that it was held in with a tiny grub screw? And if so, is there a better quality pintle or is it just pot luck? |
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DBurnett
38 Posts |
Posted - 27 Jul 2004 : 12:21:09
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Sorry, no, I meant the pintle WITH the fitting.. I've not seen pintles without fittings on sale anywhere, but I imagine you could get them made... I suspect Lasers fitting is a fairly universal component, you may get a better quality by buying from an alternative manufacturer.
I never noticed a grub screw... I thought it was a press fitting
Cheers
Dave |
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Rudder sagas
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