Feedback in Rudder, bearings?/ lost keyway?

[edanalong]

Recently I've noticed a marked feedback in the rudder when in heavier seas. As in the rudder flexing translating back up into the helm and knocking it about. We grounded, briefly a while back, I never felt like the rudder hit as it was only sand and have not been sailing in heavy air until recently, so went unnoticed.
When sailing to weather or with short choppy seas the rudder kicks back to the helm. No notice during motoring or calm sailing, and it has never had this feeling previously in heavy weather.

Inspected underwater, no sign of damage, the rudder turns smoothly by hand. No play in either of the helms, so cables are tight.
Crawled back in the lazarette to look at the rudder post and quadrant.
All looked fine but then notice what looks like large keyway, with no key. In my jeanneau drawings it doesn't show a keyway, but I find it hard to believe the rudder post would have such an indention for no reason. Could be the cause of the rudder slipping?

Any advice on this before I haul out and have the rudder dropped to check bearings.
Is there a keyway in the rudder post just below the quadrant?

[MalcolmP]

Nov 15, 2012 13:16:24 GMT edanalong said:

Crawled back in the lazarette to look at the rudder post and quadrant.
All looked fine but then notice what looks like large keyway, with no key. In my jeanneau drawings it doesn't show a keyway, but I find it hard to believe the rudder post would have such an indention for no reason. Could be the cause of the rudder slipping?

Any advice on this before I haul out and have the rudder dropped to check bearings.
Is there a keyway in the rudder post just below the quadrant?

I think you sail a Sun Odyssey 40? if so it probably has Lewmar constellation steering see:

www.lewmar.com/downloadcatalogue.asp?lang=english&id=8879&lid=0

Not clear in these pdf's either but I agree it must have a key in the keyway - it might be that you just can't see the top of the key and are just looking at the machining on the stock

If possible could you send in a photo or two? - I know it means crawling back in to the Lazarette

Hopefully some SO40 owners will be able to confirm

[edanalong]

Yes she is a 2002 SO40. I'll venture down the lazarette to get some shots today.

Thanks for your reply and any other SO40 owners that might have had the same issue.

[Seagem]

I have recently refixed my rudder on my SO42i, following some repair work on the hull. There wasn't a separate key. The key is part of the quadrant coller that fits in the keyway and is then bolted around rudder shaft. It was a bit of a fiddle holding the coller in the keyway and tightening the bolts. I wonder if the grounding has caused it to come out of the keyway? Try loosening the bolts on the coller and twisting it around the rudder shaft and you may feel it click into place.

[rxc]

I have a 43DS, but i believe that the quadrant for my boat may be common to other Jeanneaus in the low 40 ft range. And I can tell you that I did/do have a separate key between the shaft and the quadrant/collar. I don't remember whether the key was on the quadrant or the collar, but it was there.

I would advise you to closely inspect the collar for cracks . This was the part that failed on my boat.

Correction: I see from another owner that you may have a Lewmar system. Mine was a Goiot system, so my experience may not be applicable.

[edanalong]

plus.google.com/photos/103869064357967236268/albums/5813709637833347121?authkey=CJ6HotaxubzD7AE

Photos of the shaft and keyway.