Steering Wheel ID/options

[Unhallowed]

I'm in the middle of fixing up my first boat. I'd like to get the steering wheel off and replaced with something a bit nicer looking/feeling.
It's currently seized on there pretty good, but I can deal with that.

My question is regarding the replacement. Most aftermarket wheels I see have 3 notches that the wheel fits on. Mine only has 2. Anyone have a clue who made this, or where I can get one that will fit on the shaft?




*edit: The boat is a late 50's-early 60's (as far as I can find out) Hourston Glascraft

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

A lot of the steering spindles have a single woodruff key. It fits any one of the notches in the steering wheel. You should pull your steering wheel off and see what you have.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Those notches are key ways and that allow positioning.

 

[Unhallowed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Mystery solved, it's an 'Ultraflex'. Never heard of it.
The shaft has a single notch, so I guess I can run anything with at least a single notch.
Thanks. This can get closed/forgotten.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Mystery solved, it's an 'Ultraflex'. Never heard of it.
The shaft has a single notch, so I guess I can run anything with at least a single notch.
Thanks. This can get closed/forgotten.

Ayuh,.... Welcome Aboard,.... Threads just sink into the archives, no closin' or nothin',...
Even though after 90 days, a Big Red banner will ask folks not to post in it,...
Yerself, bein' the OP, can post in it, any time you'd like, to follow up, or Whatever,...

Anyways,.... Have ya Pulled the wheel yet,..??
Most of 'em now a days are 3/4" taper with a woodruff key,...
There are a few 1" taper out there, but not many on Our boats,...

To pull yer wheel, screw the nut back on, Just Flush with the end of the shaft,...
Sit in yer seat, 'n put yer knees up, 'n under the wheel, Pushin' Off as hard as ya can,...
Then with a BFHammer,... Wack the nut, 'n the wheel will Pop off against the nut,...

Good Luck,....

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

yeah, 3/4" taper. Anyway, you will have the receipt on the new one you buy.

But threads are never over, as Bondo says above.

For example, I kind of like stainless destroyer wheels....

(btw: if you lose the woodruff key you can get a replacement at the hardware store [have to select between sizes, or do a little grinding]. Stainless is best, if they have it. Great screen name, by the way.)

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

I like the look of SS destroyer wheels, but they are uncomfortable. They are real cold and slippery in cold weather, hard on the hands since they are unpadded, and mine actually fills with rainwater, which drips on my hands.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Thats why i went with a solid three spoke SS one last year.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

That wheel with the solid three spikes looks kind of like a throwback to some old metal boat wheels. With holes in the spikes (initially thought that's what was shown), I was picturing a classic car wheel -- think it might have been a Corvette style.

 

[Unhallowed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Yup, pulled the wheel. Had to soak it in penetrating oil for an afternoon before it would budge.
3/4 shaft, with a keyway. Couldn't tell if the shaft had 2 keyways or something till I had gotten the wheel off. I'm more used to car steering wheels, where if there's a weird way to put something together that makes no sense... you can guarantee they chose to do it that way.

I think I'm going to replace it with one of these from my local store.

Not exactly what I want, but it's a cheap little boat no point in getting anything fancy.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

have one that looks pretty close to that on a side-console conversion I did last year -- looks good, and is comfortable (like Chris 56 suggests above). I have a stainless destroyer wheel that I want to use for a trolling console on my old Trojan cruiser (matches the main wheel), but have to construct all that yet. You can switch out wheels if you change your mind, of course, as you suggest. All tinkering fun.

 

[Fed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

The real tinkering fun will start when your new wheel is lop sided, it's not such a worry with the old three spoker.
Off to teleflex for steering wheel alignment 101.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

yeah, that's interesting, Fed. Drives me crazy. Mine is close to straight (third stroke straight down) when the outboard is dead straight, but always doing a little tinkering with location of the steering ram in the transom mount I use. There's a name for that type of personality (mine), but probably not nice on a forum.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Thats a good looking wheel. From what I have heard the newer steering boxes are spline instead of the key ways so centering it is a lot simpler

 

[Bondo]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

The real tinkering fun will start when your new wheel is lop sided, it's not such a worry with the old three spoker.
Off to teleflex for steering wheel alignment 101.

Ayuh,.... That's the very reason I love Destroyer wheels,... No up, 'n no down, just all 'round,...

 

[Unhallowed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

Ended up ordering something a little more classic looking. Looking forward to tossing it on in a week or two when it shows up. And it has 3 slots instead of the 1 that I was going to get in case I need to centre it.

 

[skydiveD30571]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

To touch on your "centering" comments, what makes it necessary to center a steering wheel? If the steering ram isn't tinkered with, what can make it go out of alignment if, say, at one point it was dead even with the drive?

 

[Fed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

That's a good looking wheel mate, $$?

The final centre position with rotary cable depends on the wheel position when you first start feeding the cable into the helm. You might get lucky having 3 slots to choose from.

 

[Unhallowed]

Re: Steering Wheel ID/options

$55 + shipping.
Shipping was a bit much as I'm in Canada but anything I ordered locally would have ended up only being slightly cheaper after taxes.