Rusty Foot Switch.. WHY??

[bobk]

When we bought our 48MY in 2006, the decks had been repainted ('00) with Imron. The foot switches for the GM windlass were not rusting at all. I decided to repaint the decks with non-skid Algrip and replaced the rubber switch covers at the same time. After that the port side switch began to rust a little. A week ago, I pulled the cover, cleaned the rust up with FSR, rinsed and thoroughly rebedded everything with LifeCaulk. The first day in Hawks Channel we took a lot of spray and the port side switch cover got really rusted. See the pic below. What could have caused this and what do I need to do differently to prevent it from re-occuring?

 

[REBrueckner]

Poor quality metal is rusting....maybe the alloy is inconsistent with some ferrous components in spots..anyway, get another ring or whatever part is rusting....

...sometimes stainless steel rusts when cut off from air..but your photo looks like regular ferrous rust...that is iron/steel rust...."18/8" for example is 18% chromium, 8% nickel, the rest is steel....and that combo is usually enough to prevent rust...

 

[Trojan]

Take it apart and see what is rusting. It looks more like its leaching from under the rubber boot. The ring sits on top of the rubber boot and doesn't look like its rusting from the photo. It could be that you did not get the inner part clean or sealed and protected before you reassembled the new ring and boot on top. My guess it's rusting inside and leaching out.


BILL

 

[bobk]

Take it apart and see what is rusting. It looks more like its leaching from under the rubber boot. The ring sits on top of the rubber boot and doesn't look like its rusting from the photo. It could be that you did not get the inner part clean or sealed and protected before you reassembled the new ring and boot on top. My guess it's rusting inside and leaching out.


BILL

The wierd part of this is the same ring did not rust for years, then after painting under it, it starts to rust. I did clean the back side of the ring very thoroughly before assembling it, and bedded the whole thing, both sides of the boot and the ring. Then it starts to rust real fast...and only one of them.

Bob

 

[REBrueckner]

Did you reuse the same screws?? If not, perhaps one or more are causing the rust...

 

[captddis]

Looking at it, it appears to be coming up around the screws, either cheap screws or take it up and look at the base again.

 

[Nick]

Did you seal the core? The stain appears to be leaching from wood coring in the deck either around the screw holes or the switch penetration in the deck.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

The screws look different than the ones on the other foot switch. Maybe that is the problem. Say what your will about those Hatteras square drive monel screws, at least they don't rust.

 

[bobk]

Intersting thoughts on the screws. When the ring was replaced after the Algrip job last spring, the original square drive screws were reinstalled. When I pulled it off this winter, I found several of the screws were corroded through.. like only the upper half was there and the threads were missing. I replaced it all with SS phillips, but don't know if they are 18-8 or 316. I'll have a shot at redoing it and getting 316L if possible. Thanks guys.

Bob

 

[spartonboat1]

Oh, sorry, I thought this was about the old floor mounted, foot switch headlight dimmers on 1950/60's car. They were always rusty...nevermind...