Where to find a replacement tiller bearing?

beachbumlou · #1 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007

Greetings:

I am looking for a replacement part for the bearing (for lack of a better word) at the top of the rudder post on my 1980 H27.

Please see the photo.

This donut shaped hard plastic bearing is cracked and splitting and needs to be replaced. Can anyone tell me where I can find a replacement?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

LOU

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007

Try calling Hunter, it is a Hunter boat... so they may be able to tell you where to get it, if they can't provide it.

davideureka · #3 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007

make one out of hard plastic

patrickbwells · #4 (**permalink**) 08-16-2007

I had bearings custom made at machine sop out of a material called Delrin, which is a type of Teflon. I bought the material from a plastic supply warehouse and unfortunately they had a minimum order of 75.00. I would think that you could find some, maybe on ebay, cheaper. Any shop with a wood lathe should be able to turn the Delrin into any shape.

sailingdog · #5 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007

Patrick-

Delrin is a type of acetal, not teflon, and was developed as a material for use as lightweight, low-friction, low maintenance bearings.

Another good material would be Torlon....which is a polyamide polymer specifically designed as a metal replacement material.

dohenyboy · #6 (**permalink**) 08-17-2007

you can buy smaller quantities from Aircraft Spruce. I used some delrin to make insulators for a homemade SSB antenna.
aircraftspruce.com

beachbumlou · #7 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007

Thanks for all the replys. Obviously this is not a stock part and I will need to have it made somewhere. I figured as much, but posted my question nevertheless, because (as my mom used to say) you will never know if you never ask. I appreciate the info. LOU

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 08-22-2007

Lou-

While it may not be stock part in a typical marine chandlery, it may be available from Hunter, who probably used the same part on several different boats of the same vintage of your boat. If they don't have it in stock, they may know who made the part originally, and getting it from the OEM is probably less expensive than having someone make it from scratch.