Edson steering

[George DuBose]

This summer started with a "thump".

My son and I left on the year's first trip. Barcelona for Mallorca.
After leaving the marina, I went to activate the autopilot and saw that
the fluxgate compass was about 180° off. And the autopilot wouldn't
work. No, there is nothing near the compass sensor. Yes, I tried about 6
different times to calibrate the autopilot and the compass, slowly
turning 360° circles, all to no avail.

I had conversations with a ex-Raymarine tech who told me how to open the
fluxgate sensor to see the gyro was unseated. How to check the
continuity and resistance of the five tiny wires, no go.

So I bought the bullet and am upgrading to the newer Raymarine autopilot
computer, instrument panel and a below deck mechanical linear drive. The
good news is it will negate the fluxgate sensor and make it easier to
get up and running. I will install it in two weeks and see how easy it
sets up.

Then, the Isotherm Basic water heater went on the fritz. Replaced the
heating element, no go. Will replace the two thermostat elements and
cross my fingers.

Then, the shift cable broke. Fortunately, I had a new replacement aboard
as swapping the old one out was on the to do list.

But...I had to open the Edson pedestal to access the upper end of the
broken cable. While I was at it, I decided to replace the needle
bearings on the steering wheel's axle, to do that I had to lift the
chain off the axle's sprocket. To do that I had to release one end of
the cable from the steering quadrant. While I was in the engine
compartment, I decided to pull off the nearest sheave of the steering
system. The sheaves are bronze with oilite bearings, they sit on bronze
axles held by bronze cotter pins. To my surprise (not really - after 51
years of no maintenance), the axle had a large groove worn into it where
there should not be a groove.

I have had good experience dealing with Edson. some years ago, I bought
a brake shoe rebuild kit, but when went to replace the lock knob, the
knob wouldn't thread. I wrote Edson about this problem and they said,
"That can't be. We haven't changed the thread since 1973." I told them
that Skylark was built in 1973. They sent me a new knob for free.

Now when I went to Edson, I wanted to buy new axles for the sheaves, I
was even thinking of replacing the sheaves, only to learn that Edson no
longer makes BRONZE sheaves, the 4" sheaves are only available in
aluminum? and the axles they offer are stainless steel. Sounds like a
recipe for disaster...

So I am replacing the oilite bearings in the old sheaves that look like
they can easily last another 51 years, gonna live with stainless steel
axles and cotter pins, but the axles will only contact the oilite bearings.

I have two young sons that have been sailing since they were born and
that I have been able to teach which side of the sandpaper to use. They
are going to get some training in a couple of weeks on how to fix water
heaters, install autopilots, renovate a chain cable pedestal and
steering system.

Did I say Skylark is getting new GelShield and Micron in August and the
boatyard won't let me do any work on the boat at all. Only when she is
in the water.

...and then August 15 off to Sardinia for a year.

I am still looking for crew August 15-September 15 Barcelona to Sardinia.

George/Skylark

--
George DuBose
Wiedstrasse 16
D-50859 Köln
Germany
Mobile: +49.160.481.1234
Skype: georgedubose or call +1.347.284.6443

Video interview on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcOxW65Xe10&feature=youtu.be

Personal website:
http://www.george-dubose.com

Galleries:
www.rockpaperphoto.com/george-dubose
http://www.modernrocksgallery.com/george-dubose-photographer
http://www.houseofroulx.com/collections/george-dubose

Short video of Skylark's vacation:
https://vimeo.com/133183259
Password: SkylarkNY

S/V Skylark
Compagnieshaven
Enkhuizen, NL

[Michael Cyr]

Best when those things happen together and when not in critical need.  I do have some bronze sheeves from under the pedestal laying around but getting them to you from the states is probably not easy.  I think they're pretty heavy.

Mike in Maine

[Jeff Griglack]

Mike and George,

I will be in London in a month and could probably carry them in my bag if it's important.  I am only taking carry-on luggage, but these shouldn't take up too much room.  Sorry I'm not going anyplace on the continent.  If you really need them, George, would you have some way of picking them up from me?  If we do this, though, let's make absolutely sure these ones are the right size.

------------------------------------------------------------------
| Jeff Griglack             "Jabberwocky" P-365 #269

------------------------------------------------------------------
| "Don't take life so serious, son, it ain't nohow permanent"
|                   - Walt Kelly
| 'Years ago my mother used to say to me, she'd say, "In this
| world, Elwood, you must be" – she always called me Elwood –
| "In this world, Elwood, you must be oh so smart or oh so pleasant."
| Well, for years I was smart. I recommend pleasant. You may quote me.'
|               —James Stewart as Elwood P. Dowd
------------------------------------------------------------------

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[Michael Cyr]

George, If interested and you can send me a picture of what you are replacing, I will look thru my stuff for similars.

Mike in Maine

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[George DuBose]

If Mike wants to sell them, shipping them to my address in PA is the best option. These days ANYTHING coming from the UK to Germany gets whacked 19% of the merchandise price AND shipping. Germans are pissed that the UK left the EU.

Thanks for the offer.

My 51 year old bronze sheaves look like they can go another 50 years, no sweat. I do like to have backups. I have a set of the Wilcox/Crittenden seacocks.

A lot of stuff isn't made with the quality of a past era. I lost my 40 year old Tilley hat. Now the owner retired, sold the company to a bunch of investors who move manufacturing to China and the company doesn't make anything as good as the original model. ...and they call it progress?

I am looking for crew to sail from Barcelona to Sardinia, August 15th to September 1st.

George/Skylark

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/pearson-boats/CAJj5SX%2BzLm3TCsdDVPje4gueqJoW%3DymuGT3Y9VExMTiUcw6oMw%40mail.gmail.com.

[George DuBose]

The sheaves are 4" in diameter and about 1/2" thick. The oilite bearing has a hole that is 10mm ID.

Edson only offers anodized aluminum wheels in the 4 inch size and I don't like it when aluminum and stainless steel (cables) are in contact, I can't sleep...

George/Skylark

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[Jeff Griglack]

Okay. I thought it was worth a shot. Apparently a lot of British people are pissed with Brexit too.

Jeff

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