steering wheel removal

S

Simeon

Recruit
Joined
May 1, 2006
Messages
2
I have a 98 Bass Tracker pro team 185. The steering cable is locked and I'm trying to remove it for replacement. I removed the nut on the steering wheel, but it won't budge. Is there a set screw or something I've missed?<br />Thanks<br />BTW...What length cable shoudl I get?
 
JB

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: steering wheel removal

Howdy T6.<br /><br />Welcome aboard.<br /><br />This is a boat problem, not an engine problem.<br /><br />I will move it to the Boat forum for you.
 
P

paulie0735

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
463
Re: steering wheel removal

The wheel is on a tapered shaft and located by a keyway and held in place by the nut and washer. Corrosion is the only thing holding it on now. Get a heat gun from a hire store and get the steering wheel hub hot quickly by concentrating the heat from the gun to the centre hub of the wheel, once the alloy heats up it should expand and come straight off. Clean the shaft and the wheel and apply some anti-seize to the shaft when you put it back together, replace the nut and washer with new, quality stainless steel fittings. Good luck.
 
N

NBE

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 28, 2003
Messages
354
Re: steering wheel removal

Put the nut back on where the part of the nut facing you is flush with the top of the shaft. Sit in front of the steering wheel and place your knees under the bottom part of the wheel where you can exert some pressure back towards you. Use one hand to pull back on the top of the wheel toward you at the same time you are pulling with your knees and then hit the nut and shaft HARD with a hammer. After a few raps it ought to just pop right off. <br /><br />Works for me every time and I have had some that have not been off in 30 years. Don't be afraid to really whack it.
 
P

paulie0735

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
463
Re: steering wheel removal

:eek: Yep, that will work.......most of the time, the times that it doesn’t you will break the mounts for the helm where it bolts through the dashboard, break the shaft's internal locating collar or damage the threads on the shaft or all of the above. For a few bucks you can hire the heat gun than you don't have to 'wack' something as important as the steering helm which BTW was 'never' designed to be wacked with a hammer!!
 
rickdb1boat

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: steering wheel removal

Brads version has worked for me many times. Never done it any other way.....A few sharp raps and off it pops..(Don't need to beat the he** out of it)...
 
P

paulie0735

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Dec 6, 2005
Messages
463
Re: steering wheel removal

Well, that’s what forums like this are all about, lots of points of views..... I just have a big problem with that sort of advise being offered up to somebody who it seems has little experience with this type of problem, surely its not a good idea to tell somebody with little or no experience to not be frightened to really wack the tapered shaft of a steering helm, especially when the correct and safest technique has already been explained to him.
 
R

rodbolt

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: steering wheel removal

sometimes heat melts the nylon bushings, sometimes folks go nuts with a hammer, one or two I cut the shat off.<br /> most the time if I can wedge my knees under it ill back the nut off even with the threads and rap it once with a 32oz ball peen. trick is to rap it while applying upward pressure,hitting the nut squarly and not catching your knuckles between the hammer handle and the helm.<br /> are you sure you have to remove the helm to replace the cable ? some helms dont require it.
 
Bondo

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,453
Re: steering wheel removal

Ayuh,............<br /><br />Regardless of How Long it's been there,.....<br /><br />I Always use the BFH,+ Upward Pressure to remove a steering wheel........<br /><br />Like Rodbolt says,..... I've never had to Wack it more than once or twice.......
 
N

NBE

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Oct 28, 2003
Messages
354
Re: steering wheel removal

Yes, I'm not talking about beating the heck out of it but you don't want to just tap it lightly either. Most of the pressure from the hit is probably being taken by the nut itself and I have never damaged a shaft, nut, or helm doing it this way. I've seen more damage caused by heat guns or torch than hitting with a hammer this way. <br /><br />Like Bondo says, usually just takes a couple of hits, most I have done is maybe three before it just pops off. You'd be surprised as to how easily this works.<br /><br />Good luck!
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,989
Re: steering wheel removal

I just redid mine and I used the hammer and knees also. Worked just fine. Obviously you need a little discretion with the hammer.<br /><br />Mark
 
M

Moody Blue

Captain
Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
3,136
Re: steering wheel removal

Yes a universal puller should get that wheel off .... its called a hammer. Works great on flywheels too ;) Apply a good shot of penetrating oil to the shaft a day or two before you try to remove it. Good luck.
 
Texasmark

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
14,989
Re: steering wheel removal

I tried a regular puller first and since the wheel was plastic, there was nothing to grasp with the puller without damaging the wheel.<br /><br />Also a good dose of Kroil or other good grade of penetrating oil certainly wouldn't hurt.<br /><br />Mark
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top