Stuck Rudder Cam

I have a '82 H16 in good shape, but recently I stupidly pushed a rudder cam down into lock without the rudder in it. Now it won't come up. I've tried prying, hitting, cursing, and everything in between. I'm afraid if I pull any harder I'll snap the thing off.
Everything worked fine before, I never suspected any lubrication problem. Is there some kind of trick to getting the thing to unlock?

Hi Tom. I too have had stuck rudder cams. I have always been able to insert a small flat blade screwdriver in between the cam and plastic plunger, prying lightly to depress the plunger. I then decided to take the plunger out for cleaning and lub which turned out to be another can-o-worms.

_________________
07 H16
Sail No. 110387

Thanks for the help, I finally managed to get them both up.
One other thing that's bothering me, my rudders have a significant toe out. I've tried extending the bar that extends between them, but it's as far out as it can go, and they're still about 10 degrees toed out. This makes immense drag when sailing, and you have to hold constant pressure to go straight. Is it possible that the factory incorrectly installed the rudder?
I've been planning on making a new bar to extend between the rudders, something a bit longer than what it came with. I think that's the only solution, but I'm curious if anyone else has come accross this before.

It might be possible that your port rudder is on the starboard side and the starboard one on your port side.

Compare it them to any other 16.

Ok, Please don't think I am trying to insult your intelligence, but could you possibly have the tiller arms on backwards?

The arms have a bend in them, I believe it is called an Ackerman Angle.

If you have the starboard arm on the port side and the port arm on the starboard side, the result is a significant toe out condition.

Try switching them from side to side and see if your problem goes away.

Stephen

_________________
If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, maybe it is time to water your own lawn.

Ok, the other posters are correct, you have to have the correct rudder on the correct side of the boat so make sure that's correct but...if you're extending the tiller cross bar, that causes the rudders to toe out. Reverse what you're doing- collapse the tiller crossbar and the rudders will toe in.

sm

No one has specifically said this yet. The rudder arm bend should be towards the centerline of the boat.

As everyone else has said, if you've got them flipped around (really easy to do since you can swing the rudders under the crossbar and flip them) then your rudders will be way out of alignment.

_________________
1984 H16 - #80541

When you get the alignment issues taken care of. Make sure to lube the cam with some grease. Lube it on the surface where the plunger contacts the cam.
This might help:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUUA7l6fzIk

_________________
Sail Revolution
Join us on our new FB Page!

BINGO
You guys are certainly smarter than I am....
I've had the boat for a year, the previous owner had removed the rudders for transport to florida, and must have installed them incorrectly. Thanks for all the help