rudder bearing break

Thought i might add this one in. We too had a crack rudder stock bearing. Mentioned it to Hanse UK. They went to work on sourcing a new one with the aid of a couple of Pics i sent though (boat was in turkey at the time).

They got one sent from Jefa or the factory in no time. They also helped with sourcing some labour in Turkey to help with the fitting.

All in all, while it was a bugger for the bearing to have gone. Hanse made it a pretty much trouble free experience.

Guys,

I think all experiences should be communicated in all or any forum. Yes keep the topic "on topic" but boat size, if the experience is relevant, shouldn't matter. I for one have learnt heaps from the experience of those on larger and smaller boats.

Lets keep this great forum light, social and fun, so we can all share our experience and help others resolve issues....the way it was intended.

I have now the official answer of JEFA: There are two types of lower rudder bearing for Hanse 470, 471 and 430. Boats built before  1/10-2008 have type Nr M17-368-115 or after Hanse numbers: TRU 3014. Newer boats have M13-466-115 which according to Jefa is not stronger but easier to install. Mr Jan Faurschou of Jefa wrote to me: "When you mount the new bearing, you have to be very carefully when you lift the rudder stock into the bearing.
If you damage the bearing under that process, the bearing will fall apart over the next year". In other words: Only qualified people can do the mounting or repair. What he also pointed out: Don't grease the inside of the bearing only the O-rings outside and don't use a hammer to get it back on! Being asked for the reason of the break of this bearing on such a new boat he said that he can only imagine that this can happen if the shipyard doing the assembly of new boats did not do a proper job. Ergo: Dealers must supervise the assembly of new boats very carefully.



Edited by tobo - 25 August 2009 at 20:23

Hi,

Probably because it is water lubricated. Since water will find its way inside anyway, I guess they made it sea water lubricated. This is possible with modern materials. The problem is how to avoid barnacles and "rust" on the aluminium shaft.

If you look at the pictures I poster earlier, than you can see what happens to the shaft.

When I took the rudder out, I flinted the shaft, put epoxy around the area of the bearing and flinted it again. Not an easy job... So all the holes where filled with epoxy and with some strength the rudder did fit again.

Gregor