Ok, so after looking at my rudders, one arm is completely straight (both when looking from above and from the side) and one of them is bent (when looking from above). My first thought was that this bent one came from an accident, not from factory, haha, but then I read about ackerman angle, so im not sure anymore. What should they be?

I think they should both be bent in about 5deg. Might be wrong on the angle. Are your rudders parallel when straight? Some one might have replaced one. My 5.8 does not have the bend, but the newer ones like in the photo do.
NACRA list right and left rudder castings with arm. Mine are both the same and could be used on ether hull.





edited by: skarr1, Oct 11, 2009 - 03:08 PM

stupid question, but.. if they are both bent in 5deg, how could they be used for either side? I would think that would make them only usable on one side.

edit: nevermind, I think you're saying that yours, without the bend, could be used for either hull.



edited by: gordonjs, Oct 11, 2009 - 03:10 PM

edited original post
NACRA parts and assembly manuals.
http://www.nacra.us/nacra/nindex.html



edited by: skarr1, Oct 11, 2009 - 03:21 PM

When purchased separetly, a rudder casting will fit either side and when buying the arm it also can be used on either side even with the angle.

I see, but the angle is a horizonal angle, not a vertical one, correct? I realize that looking at the parts list, the arm has an angle for the 5.0, but it's one which you'd notice the angle from above, NOT from the side, right? (thats what im trying to determine, btw)

If so, then my straight arm is the one I need to replace, NOT the one I thought was accidentally bent! haha

Anyone have an extra arm laying around for a 5.0?

My 5.0 is a 1984 and both arms are straight

mine is an 87. And now the plot thickens, haha.

The bend is a horizontal one. If both arms were straight and one was bent in accidentally, The rudders would not be in line. The backs of the rudders would be closer together than the fronts. The crossbar would have to be shortened to correct this. If your rudders are in line now with one arm bent and one straight someone had to shorten or adjust the crossbar. You can ether straiten the bent arm or bend the strait arm.

You can use this on the end of the cross bar for exact adjustment.


I upgrade to these to connect the crossbar to the rudder arm.



http://www.murrays.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?


Here is the arm only, rivet it on.


http://www.murrays.com/mm…_Code=C-PF&Store_Code=MS

I saw all of those items on murrays, and am probably going to purchase them all (because I love new crap to do! yay!) however, the adjuster and the upgraded connectors, OUCH on price (saw the 2006 catalog had them for CONSIDERABLY cheaper, like 1/2 price, wonder why the price jumped so much) Are they worth it? The upgrade piece, what makes it nicer? (sell me on it!) and the adjuster, as cool as it would be, I would think it's a 'set it and forget it' type deal, am I wrong?

Instead of these my boat had a bolt that went through the side of the rudder arm. The bolt had half of the above piece which attached to the crossbar. If you pushed or pulled hard on the crossbar, the bar could rotate on the bolts. Then the pivot point would be horizontal instead of vertical. You could not steer.

The crossbar is "to me" a set it and check it once and a while. With out the adjuster the only way to adjust is to drill holes in the bar.



edited by: skarr1, Oct 12, 2009 - 03:37 PM

I've had that problem already, where I couldn't steer. So I am guessing you must drill a vertical hole in the arm for this upgrade, correct?

And do you have the adjuster?

Yes.
Nacra crossbar attachment upgrade. Take the old connector and us it to connect the new connector to the crossbar. This will provide a nice hiking stick holder.

what a great idea. And is that a line to pull up the rudders? did you get rid of the bungee system? If so, I've been thinking about doing that, do you like it better this way?

Quote

This will provide a nice hiking stick holder.

Hey, that looks familiar . . . kind of like the one in the picture of my yellow boat above.


--
Philip
--

I know all I know from Philip.