lubricating rudder arm

OverTime

PNW South Sound
Joined
Oct 25, 2025
Messages
323
Fluid Motion Model
R-29 CB
Vessel Name
OverTime
The spherical end bearing on the rudder arm of my R-29 CB as a lube fitting I am not familiar with. Does anyone know how to grease this or whatever? Thanks.
grease fitting.jpg
 
My 2017 R29 has a regular grease fitting. Yours looks different. Right or wrong, I did not think much about it and pumped water proof wheel bearing grease into it.
 
This is a grease fitting and uses a needle adapter. On mine the fiting was frozen so I just unbolted the knuckle and greased it by hand. The positive thing about unbolting it is you can check that the rudder moves freely with no effort. It has now has become my standard each year.
 
I have a 2017 R29 Sedan and got the following from Tim Bates back in 2020 when I asked him about the rudder grease fitting: "Concerning the rudder grease, the manufacturer recommends the product listed below: Quicksilver Marine Grease 2-4-C with PTFE...I wouldn’t use sparingly as you don’t need much to do the job, after speaking with the manufacturer of the rudder they recommend one to two pumps into the rudder fitting."

Mike
 
The photo shown is the ball joint threaded to the hydraulic cylinder. It requires very little grease. Most ball joint ends do not have grease fittings and a small amount of light grade machine oil few drops under the washer will keep it lubricated. The grease zerk in the photo requires a needle grease tip that can be purchased at any automotive parts store. It will attach to the end of a standard grease gun coupler. The outboard rudder assembly also has grease zerks. The photo below shows the Zerk. location. The grease used as previously stated marine grade grease with PTFE. Two to three pumps annually is plenty. There are three rings sealing the rudder shaft to the rudder housing two on the top one on the bottom. The goal is to grease the outboard rudder box without extruding grease past the o-rings. If you do see some grease extruding past the o-rings it is time to install new 0-rings. The bottom o-ring is the critical one it is sealing the water out and grease in.
 
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