Over the Years I've had My Commander I completely rebuilt
my rudder and have replaced the cockpit sole. The rudder has been on for five years and it
shows no signs of wear or water intrusion. The cockpit feels like a rock. However, slight
changes in the position of the lower shaft coupled with a slight change in the height of the
cockpit sole relative to the rudder tube has created the problem that the bronze rudder tube cap
when in place above the bearing , only allows about 5/8" of shaft to reveal itself.
Not alot of shaft to clamp onto. What happens is, is that using some shim stock, I crank
down on the Rudder head fitting. It will hold for a while (weeks, or a blow) but invariably
loosens up. The bottom line is that I dont have enough Shaft proud of the tube to get a
real solid clamp up. The resulting wiggle is not acceptable. I'd like to avoid replacing the lower
rudder shaft which could be made alittle longer and use the same holes in the rudder as this would involve taking the rudder off. It also seems that because the sole is alittle higher now, that the
rudder bearing cap touches the sole before it seats on the bearing and tube. I
might try to cut the cap down so that it might seat lower and therefore reveal more of the
shaft.

Does anyone have simular problem or solution?
Thanks B.
Commander # 215