Rudder Problem

[Ken Krawford]

My 1988 C34 Hull # 645 stays in the water year round in Atlanta.  I went to take the boat out several days ago and noticed that the wheel was very still when I tried to turn it.  The resistance is uniform from one stop the the other.  I lubed the chain inside the pedistal with no results.  Verified that the wheel brake was off.  No problems noted after inspection of the quadrant and cables.  I looked and poked around the rudder but didn't see or feel anything wrapped/trapped.
Any ideas?
Thanks.
Ken Krawford

[Ted Pounds]

Could the wheel brake be stuck on even though the knob is loosened?  You might try diconnecting the the cables from the quadrant and see if the stiffness is in the rudder or the wheel.  Just a few thoughts...

Ted

[lazybones]

It's a bit of a pain but if you loosen and disconnect the cables from the quadrant you will isolate the pedestal from the rudder and therefor narrow the possibilities.