Edson Steering - Sheaves

[Phr3d]

Hullo all,

I have the boat apart in a lot of places, due to installing new instruments. After removing the panel between the aft berth and the cockpit, I found this pile of shavings.



The wear into the base of the Edson pedestal appears to be the source. I assume the pins are gone.



Will I need the "new" style stainless pins? or new sheaves? or both?

 

[peaman]

The images don't give a clear indication of where the problem is. I would suggest loosening the wires enough that you can check the play in the sheaves. And at the same time trying to find exactly where the shavings came from. It could be a poorly machined plate which has worked through the issue.

Before loosening wires, if you can get close to the sheaves, with a helper at the helm, you might be able to hear where things are rubbing.

 

[Christian Williams]

On yacht Specialties/Merriman steering box sheaves there's a bronze insert to take the constant wear from the cables. It's supposed to be replaced periodically. I have often seen 'dust' that might be the result of such sacrificial inserts.

 

[Loren Beach]

Those little bronze inserts can indeed wear. Some pix of ours in this thread, reply 2. https://ericsonyachts.org/ie/threads/quadrant-stop-on-yacht-specialties-pedestal.3473/

 

[Kenneth K]

The bronze bushings inside the shelves come in standard sizes and are sold by McMaster Carr, among others. You can press them in/out yourself with a hammer and wooden or hard plastic dowel.

 

[Loren Beach]

Ohhhhh Ken... you've let the secret out.....
A friend of mine served on a DD, as an electrician, and still sez: "If you can't fix it with a hammer it must be an electrical problem!"

 

[Phr3d]

"If you can't fix it with a hammer it must be an electrical problem!"

Ha!

Funniest separation of trades I've read in a while!

 

[Phr3d]

I found these (hmm, maybe with the stainless pin...) and a version with a bronze bushing from the same company. There's some used 4" on ebay currently that look to be in good shape with pins. Is 4" (right or 3")? I was at first concerned about availability of replacement parts.

I do hope that base is not compromised because of the wear close to the support for the other pin. Is the base brass, or bronze or?

While I was going to have to take the pedestal apart, I was not planning on taking it that apart. But, should I just bite the bullet and change the cables while I'm in there also? Are there any other potential issues I should look for in it while this is a thing?