Whitlock steering lock

Bav34

Bav34

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7 Aug 2006
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Hi. Can anyone tell me why my steering wheel won't lock? There is a central knob that you tighten and although it has <u>some</u> effect it does not fully lock the wheel. I have taken everything apart and cannot actually see how it CAN lock. Any thoughts appreciated. Thanks in advance.
 
Ours never did either. Just a slight hint that it is harder to turn.

However, I have been on numerous boats where it worked perfectly. One day I will work out how to pull that pin out that will let me get it apart.

How far is yours in pieces?
 
The central knob will unscrew totally and that is what confuses me as there seems to be nothing more to it ... no springs or things technical inside that perhaps force the wheel to not turn when the knob is tightened. I took the whole wheel off to get to the Autopilot which was making annoying noises ...now sorted .... so I am sure that there's is nothing technical lurking.
 
I am pretty sure that the screw pushes on a white plug which actually does the braking. I think it might be nylon or teflon. Maybe you have lost yours?
We had our pedestal replaced a few years ago - the mainsheet bent it after a bad gybe, we kept the old pedstal for spares and found the old brake screw was a slightly different length to the new one and didnt lock the wheel - could that be your problem?
 
whilst on this subject, we have slight sideways slop on the wheel shaft in our boat. What sort of bearing / bush is there inside, and how do you take this bit to pieces.
 
our's is the same we just tie it now to the pedalstal.. i asked whitlock once they told me it was a clutch that locked the wheel and that i must have some muck on the two mating surfaces. I cleaned it up with some emery and it's still the same. it still bugs me.
 
It depends on which pedestal you have, mine is a Cobra and the wheel you refer to pushes on to a shoe contained in the shaft housing which is held on by cap screws, if I remember correctly the shoe is bronze or brass, the bearings are ordinary caged roller bearings best obtained from a local bearing factor for a few pounds or less. The brake shoe will need to be sourced via a retailer or Whitlock / Lewmar. It will often drop out if the housing is removed from the pedestal so that may be the cause or I suppose wear out if continually over tightened.
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I will have a look at a similar boat to mine and see what the difference is .... or just live with it /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
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