J80 rudder gudgeons and pin

[VeloceSailing]

I'm sure somebody here can explain...

I bought my j80 second hand last year. Halfway through the season the rudder started having a big play between pin and gudgeons.
Turns out that the previous owner pushed in some nylon bushings to compensate for slitage and they busted after a ride in big waves.

Taking off the rudder I noticed that the pin is 12mm while ALL gudgeon holes are exactly 15mm. Not only 3mm slitage sounds disproportionate, but 3mm on all 4 holes (2 on the rudder and 2 on the transom)?

Anyone who knows if this is an existing set up with 12mm pin, 15mm gudgeons and nylon bushings?

Changing gudgeons is not only expensive, but a nightmare on the transom. I'm seriously thinking of inserting a copper cylinder with 12mm internal diameter and 15 external.
Thoughts and experiences?

 

[patrese]

How about two bronze bushings? Best bearing material and long living. 2.5mm wall thickness should work..

 

[WCB]

How about sourcing a 15mm pin? That would solve all of the problems. That may be what caused the issue in the first place, maybe they used the wrong pin.

 

[spirit28]

Different class - but similar sort of set up shouldn't be too hard to get machined up to suit

Gudgeon Brass Bush Insert – Sportsboat World

sportsboatworld.com

 

[ExOmo]

Seems like have the correct pin diameter would be the first step. You probably should bushing/clean up the gudgeons as the loose pin has probably fubared them.

 

[solosailor]

Wayyyyy to much slop. Get a larger pin.

 

[VeloceSailing]

Yes, jeverything is now clean and polished. I am just puzzled that the 12mm pin actually as it should be, while all gudgeons are exactly 3mm wider. I thought there might be some gudgeon/busing/pin in existence that I am not aware of.
As someone mentioned here, it probably is simply the wrong pin. I expect the hole to be uneven because of the eccessive slop.
I thought to solve the problem with a copper cylinder where the 12mm pin rotates inside

 

[charis]

Easy fix. You don't even need one long pin. Several boats use individual pins made from stainless bolts.

 

[Lightningflash]

the factory pin size on the euro boats is 12mm. someone must have drilled out the gudgeon and the rudder fitting to the 15mm because I don't think that was factory. They make bronze flange bushings that are 12mm ID and 15mm OD which would be perfect for the gudgeon part, but you would also have to sleeve the rudder piece with a cylinder also.

15mm pin would be a option also. I have had good luck sourcing random stainless steel rod on ebay. You will need about 12.75". or do 2 pins like the j24 style