How do you remove the wheel ?

[Sven_G]

I want to remove the wheel so we can strip and redo the varnish. The wheel is in great shape but just needs a nice set of Epifanes coats to look great.

I don't want to disassemble the wheel into its component parts, just remove it and bring it ashore for a couple of days. So, I want to avoid starting to unscrew screws blindly. I'm guessing that the three screws in the front metal plate keeps the plate from turning and that if you remove them you can unscrew the plate and pull the wheel off.

I assume others here have done this so maybe someone can either confirm or tell me what the less stupid way is

Wheel.jpg

After that it is the instrument panel but that's a bigger headache.


Thanks, as usual.

[Jay Knoll]

Hi Sven

I don't have that type of wheel on my 27FC but I can share my experience taking the wheel off my sailboat. There should be a nut holding the wheel onto a threaded shaft. The shaft should be fitted with a keyway, a slot milled into the shaft which alines with a similar slot in the wheel hub. A key, a small retangular piece of metal fits into the keyway, and the slot in the hub. This key locks the two together so the wheel doesn't just spin around on the shaft. THE KEY IS LOOSE AND CAN FALL OUT WHEN YOU TAKE THE WHEEL OFF, DON"T LOSE IT! Here are probably more pics than you need

https://www.google.com/search?q=keyway& ... 80&bih=891


I can't tell from your pic if there is actually a nut tightened down on the metal plate with the three screws or it it is a cover. If it is a cover I'd take off the screws and see if there is an actual nut concealed underneath. If so, a quick session with a socket should loosen it so you can take the wheel off, remembering, of course, not to lose the key.

[Sven_G]

Thanks for the suggestion about the nut and keyway. That's what we have on Senta too so I should have thought of that ! I think my little bed-room-built speedboat in the 60s threw me off, it had a wheel that didn't have a keyway, just a big nut on an axle at the center of the wheel.

We'll take it off tomorrow and see what we have.

Thanks !

[Sven_G]

Well, it won't be that easy.

It is the same basic idea as the wheel on my old little speedboat and that nut ain't moving.

Steering hub.jpg

I don't know if I can find a Pblaster equivalent here but I might try vinegar followed by oil.

I pulled hard enough to think the wooden spokes might give way and that's when I stopped. We might just varnish in place.

[Jay Knoll]

Sven

Have you tried tightening it before you try to loosen it? Sometimes that will break any galling that is in the threads.

[amber jj]

Perfect setup.Use a wheel puller.you already have the 3 holes.Use a 3 jaw puller,reverse the jaws,put bolts or screws with washers in the holes and your ready to go.Hopefully the jaws on the puller has the slots in the jaws to accomodate the screws.
Remember when you get a fair amount of tension on the puller and the wheel has not come free,give the centre bolt of the puller a good sharp wack with a hammer. Good Luck

[mkh8911]

Try an impact wrench and socket to loosen the nut. It won't put as much stress on your wooden wheel.

[Halcyon]

I agree with both the puller and impact wrench suggestions. A little heat from a propane plumbers torch will help as will tapping a standard wrench if you don't have an impact wrench.