Squeaky Wheel- Whitlock Cobra Pedestal

[Finbar]

I have that most irritating of things, a sqeaky steering wheel. It is a Whitlock Cobra Premiere XL fitted to a Malo 36. I have stripped it down as far as possible, and oiled and greased everything I can get at, but it still squeaks.

According to the Whitlock Manual if I want to really take it apart I need to grind off the weld that holds the output lever to the down tube, and re-weld to re-assemble. Not something I really want to do for a squeak.

I think it is the top bearing, which is mounted under the main gear housing, and only accessible from below.

All creative ideas welcome!

 

[malcp]

Do you mean the wheel axle bearing just under the compass? If so the compass binnacle with any instrument pod can be removed by unscrewing 4 Allen head screws under the 4 corners of the compass binnacle. This will expose the "main gearing" which I believe you are referring to. See the second diagram here
http://www.jowners.org/docs/COBRA STEERING SYSTEMS.pdf

 

[apward]

Strip It

I completely stripped and rebuilt a cobra pedestal last winter and you're right, the lower arm has to be ground off and then rewelded back on after the bottom bearing has been replaced.

I'f you've got the pedestal off the boat, I recommend stripping it completely and replacing all the bearings and seals.

The lower bearing tends to operate in a pool of water due to leaks at the top of these pedestals, and the lower drain hole becoming blocked. The 3 bolts holding the plate under the quadrant gear also have a tendancy to wear slack. This was the problem with the cobra I rebuilt and I know another one that did the same thing. When you rebuild it, I'd recommend using a locking device. I drilled the bolt heads and wired them together.

All parts are still available. Talk to Cliff at WinchServicing.com he's the guru on whitlock and never fails to provide all the parts I've ever needed within 24 hours.

With a simple toolkit and a bit of mechanical aptitude, you can fully refurb these units yourself.

Just remind your welder to mark the arm before he grinds it off otherwise you'll have difficulty refitting the 2 x rolled pins that attach the quadrant to the shaft.

www.sailingmiles.com

 

[Finbar]

Thanks to both for replies. The suspect bearing is under the housing marked A7 on the drawing supplied by malcp and is inaccessible from the top. I have oiled the shaft copiously hoping it would drip down,but to no effect. I may try to rig up a tube to pass underneath and up, but it is a little Heath Robinsonish. The boat is 1999 and lightly used, so the pedestal is almost as new, except for the annoying squeak.... I do not really want to take it off and take it apart. I will call Cliff at Winchservicing and see if he has any words of wisdom. I cannot help but think a little oil or grease in the right place would sort it out. Apward, can you tell me is the top bearing is as inaccessible as it seems?

Thanks again

 

[apward]

Finbar. Cliff is the master of all things Whitlock and he's very willing to advise. I can't recommend him highly enough. You'll get the definitive answer directly from him. Give him a call you won't be dissapointed.

 

[Tim Good]

Please can I resurrect this thread. I have a similar pedestal. A premiere Reflex rather than a Premiere XL.

Inside is a gearbox arrangement as opposed to exposed gears / quadrant. A Mamba I think. See below. I am trying to get thing apart to access the chain autopilot that is held within but the plate that the gearbox sit on seems stuck fast. Reading above maybe it is welded somewhere?

Any help appreciated: