Play/slack in tiller

[Sanfelice]

Hello everyone

First time post... I bought my first top hat and first boat a few weeks ago her name is San felice and she is a mk1. I’m wondering if anyone has dealt with the issue of free play in the tiller or had any success trying to tighten up the steering. I haven’t been able to find much information on it and wondering if it’s something I can do in the water? Thanks in advance

[Phillip]

Unbolt the tiller from the bronze block.

Remove the large nut from the top of the rudder shaft.

Remove the bronze block.

You will find that there is a keyway in the Bronze block and the rudder shaft.

You need to clean out the keyways so edges are square.

Replace key with a new one that fits [may have to file a larger one down a bit]

Replace block with key in place.

Replace nut with a new SS spring washer.

Enjoy

[Lord Chunderguts]

Hello chaps!
Apologies for imposing upon your kindness, but does anyone know the size of the nut wot holds the tiller on? I'm stuck in Adelaide and my boat's in Lake Mac, so I'll have to bring a socket to fix tiller slack as per Phillip's instructions above. I'm assuming it's about an inch, or an inch and 1/8? Thank you kindly chaps! Cheerio!
-Will

[Phillip]

Will,

Just use a big crescent spanner! It should come off easily but getting the key out may present a problem.
Allow time to source and replace the key as well if necessary.

[Lord Chunderguts]

Shall do Phillip, I thought it might be hellishly tight and require an oxen pulling against a breaker bar, it's a relief to know the old shifting spanner will do it. I'll probably make the key myself out of a suitable metal. I've currently got a 34 year old diesel Mercedes car I bought for $1200, and anytime I need to replace anything electrical I just run my own wires through and buy flasher units/relays etc. from Supercheap, rather than trying to locate obscure plugs/fitting/circuits. I'll apply the same philosophy to my TH, I'll just make up everything I need out of bits of barbed wire, mulga, chewing gum, and sheep's guts, so long as the parts I make are stronger than the original. Thank you kindly chief, cheerio!
-Will