Rudder Rake Adjustment Wheel

The rudder rake adjustment wheel contains a nut inside. Be certain that the nut is firmly in place and does not have slop. If there’s slop, you can fix the rudder rake adjustment wheel as follows:

• Remove the wheel from the boat

• Get a spare ¼-20 Bolt and liberally grease the end and threads

• Insert the bolt into the wheel in a direction that pulling the bolt pulls the nut into the center of the wheel. Thread it into the nut so that its threads are fully engaged in it. Maintain slight tension on the bolt to hold the nut toward the center.

• Inject epoxy (West or Plexus) into the hole in the other end of the wheel and let it cure. I used West 105/205, slightly thickened to minimize any chance it would find its way into the threads.

• Once hardened, remove the ¼-20 bolt. Drill out the wheel from the bolt side with a 3/16 drill bit, being careful not to drill the threads in the nut. Drill out the other side of the hole (the epoxied side) with a ¼” bit, proceeding slowly and stopping as soon as the drill bit touches the nut. The ¼” bit will follow the ‘pilot hole’ you established with the 3/16” bit.

• Re-assemble the pitch adjustment wheel and rod.