"BruceinBangkok" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 26 Jan 2009 09:07:21 -0700, "Bob La Londe"
wrote:

My foot control trolling motors have little plastic/nylon pulleys in them
The steering cables come out of the foot pedal over these pulleys. On one
of my controls that is several years old the axle holes in the pulleys
have
worn and they wobble on the shaft. This causes steering cables to pop
off.
I was wondering how well 5052 aluminum (I have some laying around) would
work as replacements. Would it wear slower than the plastic, but still be
enough softer than the cables and the axles to not cause damage?

The usual "marine alloy" is usually one of the 60 series, 6061 for
instance. Generally parts for boats are anodized but making a few
spare pulleys will probably "solve" any corrosion problems. By the
way, do not mix aluminum and stainless in salt water environments
unless you insulate them from each other.
Cheers,

Bruce

5052 is also a marine alloy. Used more than 6xxx series. Both are very low
copper. the 60xx is harder. Most of the river jetboats are 5052, with some
of the bottoms having 6000 series in critical contact areas. but I would
just bore the pulleys and add a bearing hub. A new Delran, or a roller
bearing, or a bronze bushing.