Chrysler Sailors Forum

Thanks for all the input, and it was as simple as it looks. The blade itself has seen better days, but I hope with some rework it will last for a good while longer.

the rudder has a number of dings down its side.



This side does not look that bad.



In this pic you see the cut out and center disk, witch all but fall out on pulling rudder.



The center disk itself.



The center disk with blots.



I hope in the end I can save this rudder blade. the way I see it the seven bolt system looks to be stroung. The bolts hold the center disk in place while the rudder moves around the disk not just a single bolt.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980

I have the same design for my rudder. It must have been a design change in the 1980 model. When I disassembled mine, though, all that is left of the "disk" is a "ring", no side plates with bolt holes. Is your disk solid? or are the flat sides just plates?

Darin

The disk seems to be solid, but it does not have the whight of ss. The outter serface ring that the rudder turns on is ss. The outter ring must have been fussed some how to the center disk, thats just my 2cents observation. I have heard a few others with 1970 models that have this set up, but I feel no one truly knows the story behind them.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980

Thanks for the pics of that setup. My 79 C-26 has the single center bolt. The seven bolt system looks like a more elegant solution and probably eliminates any play in the rudder.

So it was a disk after all. I like it.

It does look like a much better pivot. Do you know the diameter of the disk?

Sorry I should have put this up yesterday. Diameter 5" by 1 3/4 thick. I would have posted more pics, but my cam, is no good for really close up pics. Perhaps the man in red will bring me a new one this year.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980

Hmmm, solid disk with holes for each bolt. Maybe I'll fill in my "ring" with fiberglass.

Don't see why we can't back engineer our older rudder blades (single center bolt hole) to this later design seems much sturdier than older design. A large hole saw some fiberglass resin and alum or SS plates or even wood plug with a SS strip for bearing surface a few SS nuts and bolts and voila. Whatcha think?

Sounds like a doable project, I'm curious as to why this rudder set up has not been discoursed before... or has it? I'm sure everyone is looking for ways to improve their Chrysler?

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980

It appears to be very similiar to the C-22 also... center pivot and ropes all seem the same anyway.

I may need to adapt it as my center hole is elongating over the seasons. It would be nice to see more picts of the whole assembly for referance.

The fiberglass is easy to repair, just sand, fair it out, sand some more, and prime/paint. It'll look good as new!

Thanks!

All I have off my c26 at this time is the rudder blade, but if you need to see a whole assembly for reference go to EE's virtual home port. There you will find some nice pics of a pulled c26 rudder assembly. The only thing different between his and mine should only be the seven bolt rudder set up.

Terrence
Wilmington N.C.
Chrysler 26 1980