Replacing the steering wheel on a Princess 388 Flybridge

[nav1]

Hello,

i am currently buying a Princess 388 and want to change the flybridge wheel, can anyone advise if it is a tapered wheel or simply spline and do i need any additional items to do this? this is the current wheel - sorry i don't have a picture of the rear of the wheel at this time

thanks in advance for any help

 

[BruceK]

I have not come across one that wasn't tapered.

 

[jrudge]

They can be very very hard to get off. Years of dissimilar metals and non removed since it was built.

I used a puller and force.

Keep going and when you think it is about to snap in two it will come off!

 

[nav1]

Thanks guys, i'm already nervous re the "when you think it is going to snap" bit!

Appreciate your comments / help

 

[jrudge]

you might be lucky but the force to get mine off was extraordinary

 

[Croftie]

you might be lucky but the force to get mine off was extraordinary

Well at least no air bag to cope with unlike steering wheels on modern cars

 

[Bandit]

Volvo Penta do an almost identical one except it says Volvo Penta.

i have replaced flybridge wheels on two boats now with VP ones.

 

[nav1]

thanks guys, i am really wanting to replace it with a more modern looking wheel, seems it may not be as simple as my simple mind thought!!

 

[Mr Googler]

It is straight forward. Changed 3 wheels so far.

Slacken the centre nut but don’t take it off. This stops the wheel smacking you in the face.

3 leg 6 inch puller and go for it.

Go shopping......http://timage.eu/marine/153-UK-boat-steering-wheels

 

[Greg2]

I was struggling to get the wheel off our S34 a few weeks ago - had a puller on it and no joy. I spoke to a local engineer and he said that the trick is, having removed the nut, to exert pulling pressure and at the same time belt the end of the shaft with a hammer - and not to be shy with either. I was on my own so had my knees behind the wheel so that I could give it a belt - came off on the second or third attempt. Quite surprising given the amount of pressure I had exerted simply trying to pull it off.

 

[Mr Googler]

I was struggling to get the wheel off our S34 a few weeks ago - had a puller on it and no joy. I spoke to a local engineer and he said that the trick is, having removed the nut, to exert pulling pressure and at the same time belt the end of the shaft with a hammer - and not to be shy with either. I was on my own so had my knees behind the wheel so that I could give it a belt - came off on the second or third attempt. Quite surprising given the amount of pressure I had exerted simply trying to pull it off.

I’ve done it that way too. Bit scary. I was pulling on the wheel whilst mate bashed it. You’ve got to be a good shot so you don’t bugger up the shaft.

 

[Greg2]

I’ve done it that way too. Bit scary. I was pulling on the wheel whilst mate bashed it. You’ve got to be a good shot so you don’t bugger up the shaft.

Very true on both counts!
I tried with a rubber mallet first because I was concerned about damaging the shaft but it didn’t give it the jolt that it obviously needed. Hammer did the job fairly easily and thankfully no damage

 

[GrahamHR]

A slide hammer with a 3 legged puller attachment works well.

 

[Ian h]

I’ve done it that way too. Bit scary. I was pulling on the wheel whilst mate bashed it. You’ve got to be a good shot so you don’t bugger up the shaft.

Thats way I got mine off. I was pulling the wheel while friend hit the nut. You have to hit it fairly hard. Not for the faint hearted

 

[oldgit]

Replaced identical wheel on my P35 recently, definately splined but cannot remember if tapered.Came off with gentle tap with rubber mallet.Changed simply cos it looked a bit tatty.
Wanted to replace it with a flash posh modern one.
New one looked really cool.
Put old one back on a few weeks later , new one never felt right and always seemed to end up off line when going dead ahead.
Any replacement for my wheel next time would definately be a multispoke stainless destroyer type wheel out of preference.

 

[nav1]

thanks guys, looks like its gonna be a mate with a hammer and some brute force coming up - may film it in case it all goes wrong, at least i can get £200 from some tv programme!!...do like some of those wheels on timage!!

 

[Croftie]

You really need something else, find a good sized drift. Slacken the nut until it is level with the end of the column thread.
Never just hit with a hammer, you will damage the threads probabaly on both the shaft and nut. Place a drift of around 2" dia against the nut/shaft and get your mate the hit the drift nice and square whilst you try to pull the wheel off.

 

[Mr Googler]

thanks guys, looks like its gonna be a mate with a hammer and some brute force coming up - may film it in case it all goes wrong, at least i can get £200 from some tv programme!!...do like some of those wheels on timage!!

£50....

£120...

I like timage too

 

[oldgit]

Really really hoping that is best guality 316 stainless on those spokes and not chromed plastic

 

[Mr Googler]

Really really hoping that is best guality 316 stainless on those spokes and not chromed plastic

The £50 one is chrome plastic covers.

The expensive one is indeed polished 316 stainless steel