[C38] steering quadrant battles!

[Don Strong]

Max: You are the champion. I have removed mine twice, but not in 
extremis. regards, Don

On 9/9/11 6:43 PM, Max Soto wrote:
> Hey  Tom,  Be aware that I removed it while performing a full peeling 
> and blister job on Estancia just by myself!!! LOL
> Cheers
>
> MAx
>
> 2011/9/8 tdtron at earthlink.net <mailto:tdtron at earthlink.net> 
> <tdtron at earthlink.net <mailto:tdtron at earthlink.net>>
>
>     *I propose we have a perpetual trophy for the owner who has done
>     the most impossible mechanical repair during the year, like a
>     craftsman's equivalent to the Nationals of the racers.*
>     **
>     *Removing the steering quadrant on Max's boat sounds like very
>     strong competition for this year's first winner.*
>     **
>     *Tom T.*
>
>         ----- Original Message -----
>         *From:* Max Soto <mailto:maxsoto at gmail.com>
>         *To: *Catalina 38 Listserve <mailto:Listserve at catalina38.org>
>         *Sent:* 9/8/2011 9:27:05 PM
>         *Subject:* [C38] Mother of all steering quadrant battles!
>
>         For all of you that are planning to remove the rudder for the
>         first time, hopefully, this will help a little bit:
>
>         Taking down the rudder was the mos painful job I've ever
>         performed on Estancia... The quadrant on the rudder shaft is
>         located a few inched from the packing gland, and after 29
>         years of getting wet with salt water, all the stainless bolts
>         were welded to the quadrant except for the two small ones on
>         the sides.
>         After heating, massaging and applying wd40, two of the four
>         bolts on the sides gave up and I was able to take them out,
>         one broke in the threads so It wasn't a problem, the other one
>         , plus the one that goes on the middle from side to side broke
>         their heads.....
>         Before taking David's approach and get the grinder, I decided
>         to keep trying, and after lots of ours, and four days, I
>         was  finally able to take it apart.... If I was able to take
>         out the center pin, I would have been able to loosen
>         the quadrant a little bit and slide the rudder shaft
>         down, and take out the quadrant in one piece, but that bolt
>         was stubborn.. I took the nut on the back side and
>         kept tighten it and adding a stack of washers every once in a
>         while so it will come out, until the corroded bolt got stuck
>         and the hull angle didn't let me apply leverage.... At least I
>         was able to move  the bolt about two inches, so the front
>         halve of the quadrant wasn't touching the bolt. The one on the
>         side stood against every trick in my hat, but when anger, pain
>         and desperation took over me, I grabbed a drill and  started
>         drilling on the side, perpendicular to the remaining bolt...
>         Somehow I drilled exactly through the bolt and cut it in
>         two...  I put a screw driver on the side, hit it gentle with a
>         hammer and the two halves became apart from each other... I
>         heard some angels singing  next to me!!
>         The good thing is that a shop took the bolts out without any
>         damage to the halves.  I also requested not to weld the hole
>         that I drilled.. Is not going to affect, and it will be easier
>         to lubricate the bolt in the near future, in case that it
>         seizes again....
>         I'm 36, and I have never had such back pains as the ones that
>         this quadrant did.... Not worth it to fight for days.. If
>         having same problems, don't waste time, get the drill, get it
>         done, and let the shop take care of the rest...
>         The pics shows the corroded and twisted bolt on the middle,
>         the bolts with broken heads, and the lateral hole that I
>         drilled...
>         Hope this helps to avoid someones back pains!!!!!
>
>         Regards,
>
>         Max Soto
>         C38 #198 ESTANCIA
>         Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>
>
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>
>
>
> -- 
> Max Soto
> C38 #198 ESTANCIA
> Puntarenas, Costa Rica
>
>
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-- 
Donald R. Strong
Professor
Dept. of Evolution and Ecology
University of California, Davis 95616

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