300WE Rudder Port Frames

[dwna1a]

The red disk are "Drive Savers". You could remove them and slide your shafts forward far enough that the props would clear the rudders.

I don't want to hijack. What is a Drive Saver?

 

[schwarz633]

That frame carries the vertical load of the rudder assembly. There should be an oilite washer between the tiller arm and that steel frame which is the bearing. The only issue with this design is the packing gland which is also the rudder shaft bearing journal takes all of the moment load (rudder side to side forces imposed by the water and tiller loads) and tends to elongate; consequently, results in rudder lateral play then eventual packing leakage. Not that this is a bad design; it has endured. As stated earlier, this should be restored to include disassembly and inspection of the gland. As to replacing with a PVC sleeve - this would impose the tiller rotary forces onto the packing gland nut and make it difficult to adjust the gland; wouldn't be my solution....

If this is the case, would replacing the packing gland remove some of the looseness in the rudder?

 

[dwna1a]

Yes. It's not hard to do and with the old girl out of the water you should have no issues. Do them both. No sense doing one and not the other.

Like I said before, I have to be out of the water to do mine. It turns mine into a larger project.

 

[ttmott]

If this is the case, would replacing the packing gland remove some of the looseness in the rudder?

Maybe temporarily. However the bearing surface area of the rudder port (the length below the packing gland) is what holds the rudder in alignment. If that bearing area is worn there is not much that can be done.

 

[schwarz633]

I was able to procure SS replacement frames from Sea Ray. New Gore 1/4" GFO packing, new frames, ready to launch.