[frers-list]to Art Kelley

[Courtney Thomas]

On 4/25/2013 5:55 PM, Arthur Kelley wrote:
> Courtney,
>
> Apologies for the delay on this.  Had not located the final paperwork, 
> and wanted to write more about it than I could on my phone.
>
> For mine, I used a 4" lower bearing and a 2.5" upper bearing.
>
> I would consider doing the upper bearing differently.
>
> The lower bearing was simply press-fit into the tube.  The old one 
> slid out very easily (too easily).  Using the dry ice press fit method 
> for the lower bearing worked like a charm.  Provide the vendor a very 
> carefully measured inside diameter of the tube and outside of the 
> shaft and they will calculate the size to machine to to press fit.  My 
> measurements were:
> Housing: 3.025"
> Shaft: 2.490"
> Bearing ID: 2.511" +/- 0.0025"
> Bearing OD: 3.033" +/- 0.003"
> Bearing Length: 4"
> Digital verniers for measurement are really simple to use and 
> inexpensive these days if you've never worked with a vernier or dial 
> calipers.  You need to measure to thousandths of an inch.
>
> On my boat the upper bearing was a thin coating of green teflon type 
> material inside a fiberglass tube, which was glassed directly into the 
> deck. I used a hole saw to cut out the old tube then secured the upper 
> as best as I could with resin.  Messy job that involved scoring the 
> outside of the bearing to give the resin something to grip.  The upper 
> was therefore, not press fit, but basically glued in place.  I used 
> the same diameters for the upper as I had the lower which was not 
> optimal since I ended up not press fitting it.
>
> I probably should have gotten a piece of fiberglass rudder tube (Tides 
> Marine) of the diameter of the lower one, press fit the bearing into 
> that, then glassed the whole assembly in place using the rudder shaft 
> (or some substitute) to ensure alignment.
>
> Today, I would also consider one of the Tides Marine URB units, but I 
> have no experience with these.  Maybe someone else here does.
>
> I also had 2 washers made at the same time because I had an oddball 
> tiller head arrangement at the time.  My boat was originally shipped 
> with a wheel, converted to a tiller, and then I refit to a wheel.
>
> Shipping on the vesconite bearings from South Africa was just about 
> the same cost as the product itself.  My total cost in 2003 including 
> DHL shipping, was $122.
>
> Art
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Courtney Thomas" 
> <courtneycthomas@bellsouth.net>
> To: <frers-list@lists.frers33.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 10:20 AM
> Subject: [frers-list]to Art Kelley
>
>
>> Art,
>>
>> Just read your rudder bearing replacement summary (thank you) and 
>> have a couple questions:
>>
>> what was the bearing length of the upper, please ? You give the lower 
>> as 2.5" but no length
>> on the upper, and since mine is entirely missing.....
>>
>> and.... for diameters did you simply give Vesconite the ID of the 
>> tube(s), the OD of the rudder stock, or what ?
>>
>> I'm obviously tryin' to order and want to avoid custom fabrication or 
>> wrong ordering, etc.....  :-)
>>
>> Appreciatively,
>>
>> Courtney
>> _______________________________________________
>> frers-list mailing list
>> frers-list@lists.frers33.com
>> http://lists.frers33.com/mailman/listinfo/frers-list 
>
> _______________________________________________
> frers-list mailing list
> frers-list@lists.frers33.com
> http://lists.frers33.com/mailman/listinfo/frers-list
>
Art,

Thank you so much ! Certainly no need for apologies  :-)

Cordially,

Courtney