Steering Linkage? 26M

[NiceAft]

Kevin,

On the subject of what does not happen to me, I have to add NOT CATCHING ANY FISH IN LOCH ALSH RESOVOIRE! Have you ever seen someone catch fish there? Frustrating!!!!!! I went there Wed. evening to test out a new rod and reel. I should have just attached a safety pin to a string

Ray

[c130king]

Ray,

I also have an 05 . I had "stiff" steering and no engine flop...for about 6 months and then my steering completely froze up and I broke the rack and pinion trying to force it. I was never told about keeping the steering rod lubed. You may want to check that to prevent your stiff steering from possibly becoming a frozen steering.

As a follow up. The new rack and pinion is nice and loose and now I have the engine flop over issue. Especially when heeled over. I still leave it connected most of the time but I have to keep a hand on the wheel when I do.

Quiet Mon,

Another thing your friend can check is the engine steering linkage. Mine does not travel completely level and the pin that holds it to the engine occasionally catches on the fiberglass. In fact the pin has rubbed an "edge" into the fiberglass.

Good luck.

Jim

[NiceAft]

Thanks Jim.

Ray

[c130king]

Ray,

Just make sure what I am saying is clear. I mean the rod that comes out of the Teleflex or Detmar steering cable. The rod is connected to the starboard rudder braket down below. Not the rod that pushes the engine.

I have not lubed my new one yet. Hasn't needed it. Not sure what to lube it with.

Jim

[NiceAft]

I'm thinking WD-40.

Ray

[kmclemore]

Kevin,

On the subject of what does not happen to me, I have to add NOT CATCHING ANY FISH IN LOCH ALSH RESOVOIRE! Have you ever seen someone catch fish there? Frustrating!!!!!! I went there Wed. evening to test out a new rod and reel. I should have just attached a safety pin to a string

Ray

Indeed... I don't think I've *ever* caught anything in that resevoir, except the occasional sunfish. Not much fight in them!

But I do remember that when I was a kid it used to freeze over, and they had metal signs that they'd flip over and lock in place that said that skating was OK. In spring they'd flip them back to saying "No Skating" and re-lock them. I can only wonder why it no longer freezes - I suspect it's lots of lawn chemicals and such... probably why the fishing's now lousy, too.

Funny enough, our swim club is literally right round the corner from that resevoir, Ray - Ft. Washington Swim Club. We were probably over there that same afternoon!

[Andy26M]

Just a note: WD-40 is not a good lubricant.

The "WD" stands for "water displacement" and the "40" is because it took the inventor 40 tries to get the mix right.

WD-40 is a good solvent and works well to dry out or prevent water accumulation, but once it evaporates, it leaves behind no actual lubricant.

Given the value of the steering system, I'd look up the manufacturer's owner's manual and see what lube they say to use.

- Andy

[NiceAft]

Andy,

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment.
While WD-40 does the following (from their website)

CLEANS: WD-40 gets under dirt, grime and grease to clean. It also dissolves adhesives, allowing easy removal of labels, tape and excess bonding material.
DISPLACES MOISTURE: Because WD-40 displaces moisture, it quickly dries out electrical systems to eliminate moisture-induced short circuits.
PENETRATES: WD-40 loosens rust-to-metal bonds and frees stuck, frozen or rusted metal parts.
LUBRICATES: WD-40's lubricating ingredients are widely dispersed and tenaciously held to all moving parts.
PROTECTS: WD-40 protects metal surfaces with corrosion-resistant ingredients to shield against moisture and other corrosive elements

The site also said that

How long does WD-40 last after application?
While this may vary depending on the application, WD-40 remains effective even after it appears to dry. The corrosion and rust protection ingredients remain adhered to the surface. External conditions may, of course, require additional applications of WD-40 for maximum protection.

That extended protection is what I am looking for. It may not lubricate as well as other products, but it does continue to protect.

For the entire time I have owned my M, the mast did not rotate. It was annoying, but I lived with it. In one of the threads discussing that very topic, there were a variety of solutions, but some genius on this site said to use WD-40. I did About a month ago I sprayed some on the washers in the mast base. It has worked well since then. I intend to give a spray every time I take the mast down for travel. That will be about four times a season. I also will try to spray the areas that Jim mentioned at least a couple of times. We only have a six month window of sailing here, so I think it's doable


Ray

[beene]

I'm with you on that one Ray.

I have used WD40 on my 1200cc motorcycle for years.

Tried several different chain waxes... keep coming back to good old WD.

G