Tiller arm conundrum off centre notch

[Makr0]

Hey all I need a second set of eyes on this.

I have an old Alpha 3000 tiller arm I’m going to use for a b&g ram.

It fits my rubber post perfectly except the notch pits It 35 degrees off centre.

My thought is just install it that way and position the ram around it.

My other options are forget the notch install it where there is no notch and use the set screw or buy an Edson arm…

[Jim Cate]

You could get a machine shop to cut a new keyway in the correct place... not a difficult process for them.

And relying upon a grub screw is pretty risky IMO. consider what happens if it lets go as you are surfing down a big wave with lots of rudder pressure!

Jim

[DougR]

Terminology question.....
When you refer to the "notch" are you referring to the notch in the end of the tiller arm, or are you referring to a keyway in the rudder shaft bore of the tiller arm?

As Jim Cate mentions, you need a key & keyway cut into the rudder shaft and tiller arm to have an adequate mechanical link between the two parts when operating under conditions of high load. So, better to relocate the cylinder around the existing keyway position, or have a new keyway cut into the tiller arm so that it centers the arm.

[Makr0]

The arm is off to the machinist. I have the good fortune of having a marina neighbour machinist.

[NLcruiser]

Did you have any success with the Alpha 3000 tiller arm?

[Makr0]

Oh yeah I did. With the key slot in the right place it worked great.