If the woodruff key is worn enough to be loose there is a risk of it falling out of the slot between the shaft and the quadrant.
This very thing happened on a C&C 39 during a delivery from Seattle to LA in 1977, on a dark and stormy night. The woodruff key was made of bronze (softer than the SS shaft) and slipped down enough the last ΒΌ" holding sheared in rough seas off Northern California. The ensuing broach threw several of us off watch crew out of our bunks (over the lee cloths). After a few minutes of spinning donuts we rigged the emergency tiller and regained control. Fortunately a spare woodruff key was on board and one of the crew was able to work quickly to disassemble the quadrant/cable assembly, refit the key (measure twice, file to fit) and reassemble the quadrant. The most difficult part (aside from seasickness issues related to the cramped space) was re-attaching the cable as the rudder needed to be held hard over for each side i.e. more offshore donuts. With normal steering function restored a fine breakfast of Egg Fu Yung was prepared and the normal day watch resumed. Martin Calypso 1971 C&C 43 Seattle ________________________________ From: cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com [mailto:cnc-list-boun...@cnc-list.com] On Behalf Of Russ & Melody Sent: Monday, August 20, 2012 9:55 AM To: cnc-list@cnc-list.com Subject: Re: Stus-List Edson Steering System Hi Bob, A worn keyway or key will show as lost motion between the wheel and the shaft it's connected to. Grip the shaft just ahead of the wheel with something non-marring (like a padded visegrip, set firm not hard). If the lost motion, 1/4" play, is the same then it's a worn key/keyway. If there is no lost motion there then look for slackness in the cables (as others suggested) or the key/keyway at the quadrant. Slop can also be cause by a worn rudder tube, but basically start at the input and work your way through the system. Cheers, Russ Sweet 35 mk-1 At 06:16 AM 20/08/2012, you wrote: Bill: Can you elaborate a bit on what is a worn keyway on the steering shaft. Is it a big job to replace/repair? Bob Abbott AZURA On 2012/08/20 10:03 AM, Bill Connon wrote: Helen Abbott wrote: Recently, we have noticed a little 'play' in the steering system......by a little 'play' I mean the wheel turns approx. a 1/4 inch before it engages the rudder. Is something wearing away in the steering system and needs to be replaced or is this a case where an adjustment can be made to tighten things up? Any and all advice appreciated? Bob Abbott AZURA C&C 32 - 84 Halifax, N.S. Bob, I have the same problem on my '78 36 footer. The problem is definitely a worn keyway on the steering shaft. Bill Caprice 1 _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com<http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/> CnC-List@cnc-list.com _______________________________________________ This List is provided by the C&C Photo Album http://www.cncphotoalbum.com<http://www.cncphotoalbum.com/> CnC-List@cnc-list.com
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