kacecar
Well-Known Member
Hello.
I'm trying to dismantle the steering on my ageing Sigma362 so I can remove the pedestal from the cockpit floor and am having a problem. Essentially I need to know how hard I should have to hit it!
The pedestal hasn't been out in at least the 15 years that I've had the boat. In the relevant manual ("COBRA Steering Systems - Installation and Maintenance Guide" - a download rather than an original), in section 3, it describes the procedure for dismantling the unit. Step 3.1 appears to be missing but, if it ever existed, must be pretty basic. I've completed steps 3.2 to 3.6 without problem or incident. Now I get to the steps 3.7 and 8 which are as follows:
"3.7 Using a wood, aluminium or copper bolster press downshaft through output socket bearing.
3.8 Withdraw downshaft, output lever and lower bearing assembly from the bottom of the pedestal."
I've tapped on the downshaft with a large copper mallet - no movement at all. I've then tapped it quite a lot and with slightly increasing weight - still no movement. I'm not aware on any mechanical obstruction that prevents it from moving and it is clearly intended to be a reasonably tight fit in the upper bearing. However, I'm nervous of hitting it really hard in case of breaking something. So the question, to those that have done it, is how hard should I hit the thing? Continue tapping and hoping? One big whack to see what happens? Or keep hitting hard it until the d*mn thing moves? What do you think?
I'm trying to dismantle the steering on my ageing Sigma362 so I can remove the pedestal from the cockpit floor and am having a problem. Essentially I need to know how hard I should have to hit it!
The pedestal hasn't been out in at least the 15 years that I've had the boat. In the relevant manual ("COBRA Steering Systems - Installation and Maintenance Guide" - a download rather than an original), in section 3, it describes the procedure for dismantling the unit. Step 3.1 appears to be missing but, if it ever existed, must be pretty basic. I've completed steps 3.2 to 3.6 without problem or incident. Now I get to the steps 3.7 and 8 which are as follows:
"3.7 Using a wood, aluminium or copper bolster press downshaft through output socket bearing.
3.8 Withdraw downshaft, output lever and lower bearing assembly from the bottom of the pedestal."
I've tapped on the downshaft with a large copper mallet - no movement at all. I've then tapped it quite a lot and with slightly increasing weight - still no movement. I'm not aware on any mechanical obstruction that prevents it from moving and it is clearly intended to be a reasonably tight fit in the upper bearing. However, I'm nervous of hitting it really hard in case of breaking something. So the question, to those that have done it, is how hard should I hit the thing? Continue tapping and hoping? One big whack to see what happens? Or keep hitting hard it until the d*mn thing moves? What do you think?
