[Public-List] Tiller Head - I'm stuck!

Jeffrey alberg30nh at gmail.com
Sun Apr 1 07:28:40 PDT 2012


Michael : "  Once you have finally twisted off the bolt head with out
removing the bolt it is time for procedure two."

Not even considering this yet! I just came back from adding more PB blaster
and giving it hammer taps. When I'm around the bolt, I'm careful to show no
fear! Thanks Gord!

-jeff




On Sun, Apr 1, 2012 at 9:14 AM, <crufone at comcast.net> wrote:

>
>
> Jeff,
>
>
>
> The bolt originally did not go thru the rudder shaft. As Michael mentioned
> it is supposed to be positioned as a set screw. Repeated heat and cooling
> works wonders on loosening "frozen bolts".
>
> Something called MAP Gas produces a hotter flame than propane torches. Wet
> rags around the adjacent area are a good idea, you can keep them wet as you
> go along. I wouldn't begin by over heating the bronze head. Copper alloys
> when quenched actually get softer. So I would begin by applying the PB
> blaster and then heating. allow to air cool without quenching. You may do
> this several times without softening the bronze head. Tapping gently but
> sharply with a ball pein hammer helps to shock the thread interface. Do
> this as you are heating the fitting. Patience or as Gord puts it
> persistence is your friend.  Repeat the process over and over again over
> several days if needed.
>
>   Once you have finally twisted off the bolt head with out removing the
> bolt it is time for procedure two.
>
> Determine the the maximum diameter of the valley of the threads on the
> bolt. For a 5/16" bolt this might be 17/64". Carefully locate the Exact
> center of the bolt in the fitting. Center punch this spot. Begin to drill a
> hole in the exact center and at the same exact angle as the original bolt.
> If the bolt is Stainless this will be tough, but can be done. Begin with an
> 1/8" bit or smaller. Purchase several new bits of this smallest size. The
> first hole it the most critical to be accurate. Using this small drill bit
> you can angle the drill around to center the bit as you drill. Measure the
> depth to the rudder shaft and drill NO deeper. After the first hole use
> progressively larger bits. Don't be in a hurry...... go up in size by 1/64"
> at a time. This staging of drilling will allow you to adjust the center of
> the hole a little as you go up in size. Once you have reached the maximum
> size determined above STOP. You are actually done.
>
>   With the "Set Screw/Bolt" drilled out it no longer has much holding
> power on the rudder shaft. Does your fitting have the pinch bolt at the
> rear side? Remove the pinch bolt. Fashion a tool to 'gently' spread the
> slot cut in the fitting for the pinch bolt. Use a wedge and a C-clamp to
> push the wedge in place gently........you don't want to break the ears off
> the fitting............just help to break the bond between the shaft and
> fitting.
>
>   Once the fitting is off the shaft you can remove what remains of the set
> screw from the dimple in the shaft. Using a dental pick you can actually
> carefully remove what remains of the threads of the bolt from inside the
> bronze fitting. Then carefully run a tap in to clean up the original
> threads. I have been able to do this process with great success and saved
> many an irreplaceable casting on old mechanical equipment.
>
>   BTW apply all of Gords techniques along the way  as well.
>
> Michael #133
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
>
>
>
>
> From: "Jeffrey" <alberg30nh at gmail.com>
> To: "Alberg 30 Public List -- open to all" <public-list at lists.alberg30.org
> >
> Sent: Saturday, March 31, 2012 3:36:47 PM
> Subject: [Public-List] Tiller Head - I'm stuck!
>
> I'm about to embark on a cockpit floor re-core, but I've hit a roadblock
> getting the tiller head off.
>
> In front of the tiller head is a big (5/8 If I remember) bolt head.  This
> bolt..no way is that sucker moving.  So far a couple of days dribbling in
> some PB Blaster and still nothing. The bolt looks like steel.
>
> What exactly is this bolt? Does the bolt go through the rudder shaft? I can
> just almost barely see the back side, and it looks like there *may* be a
> hole. Is this common to all boats?
>
>
> Jeff
>
> Jeff Fongemie
> #116 Seagrass
>
> http://picasaweb.google.com/fongemie
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> --
> Jeffrey Fongemie
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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