Cant get rudder pins out

Has anyone had any issues with rudder pins getting stuck in the castings after a long period (years) of inactivity I am looking to strip mine down on a boat I just boaught and for the life of me I cannot get them to budge to remove the castings from the gudgeons. They seem to be different form my 81 hobie (this is a 1990).

Before I get drastic I wondered if I was just missing some simple dissasembly action. Also the plunger adjustor is totally jammed and one is broken in half, any thoughts on how to get these free without damaging the threads in the casting?

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1985 Prindle 16

Time for a bigger hammer.

They are probably frozen from corrosion, or, if they're aluminum pins, they could be bent. There is no special trick to removing the pins, you just pull out the cotter pin and they should come out. I would try soaking in WD-40 or liquid wrench as a first step. Then use a hammer and punch to drive the pin out. If it still won't budge, your only option may be to remove the gudgeons from the transom. You have to be real careful though because if the gudgeon screws are corroded, you could be opening up a whole other can of worms.

As for removing a broken plunger spring screw, do a search, there have been numerous discussions on the subject on this forum. Most techniques involve either jamming a red hot screwdriver into the screw and then unthreading it, drilling out the screw, or melting it out.

sm

ok silly question but I frankly cant remember - drive them out from the top down or bottom up - I do have a big hammer just waiting to be put into action

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1985 Prindle 16

The problem with "using a bigger hammer" is that you're likely to mushroom the end of the pin - making the problem even worse.

You need to get the castings off the boat and get them in a controlled setting (workbench) so you don't damage them.

Use a hacksaw blade holder (a handle for a hacksaw blade - allows you to get in tight spaces) to cut the pin above and below the deck lip. Remove all the gudgeon bolts and then the casting will come free of the boat.

In the workshop, cut off the pin flush with the castings (6 cuts). Give the joints a good soaking with penetrating oil (WD 40, Liquid Wrench, PB Blaster) and let sit overnight.

Mount the casting in a vise, and using the bigger hammer and a 3/8" punch - drive the pin stubs out.

Thanks for the advice - I will try a combination of liquid wrench and some heat then if that fails I will break out the hacksaw. This is a pain in the butt, but at least it is February not May

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1985 Prindle 16

Sorted - I found a 14 inch extension bar for a power drill and the end that goes into the drill is EXACTLY a perfect fit to go inside the casting, gudgeons etc. whilst still being ont he edges of the pin. A few seriosu wallops with the hammer and the pin came up through the castings and popped out. Needless to say, I intend to replace the pins They were quite bent it appears.

Thanks for the advice and help folks

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1985 Prindle 16