Steering Wheel Removal Advice

vinpaa

vinpaa

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Location
Babylon NY
Model
Sailfish
I have a 2006 Grady White 282 Sailfish, I would like to replace the existing steering wheel with a new gemlux steering wheel. From what I can tell the wheel is held on by the center chrome lug nut. I've tried using a vice grip but had no luck. The nut measures 1-5/8", so i plan on getting a socket for that size. I also tried popping of the nut thinking it might be a cap, but couldn't get it off. Anyone have experience removing this type of steering wheel, see photos?
 

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A small pipe wrench worked for me. Just pad the teeth with a towel or some small strips of rubber so not to mar the nut up as you will probably re-use it. A decent size crescent wrench might work also.
 
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I had to remove the steering wheel on my 2000 272 Sailfish and it was a living hell. Busted 2 pullers until I finally got it off. Good luck!
 
Grease the shaft after you get it off and put the new one on. You probably know that already tho.
 
I was able to get the cap off with a big channel lock pliers and a rag. I used an adjustable crutch to hold the wheel in place.

The hard part was getting the wheel off of the shaft. After no luck at all using a puller, I sprayed the outside and inside ends of the shaft with Corrosion X (the thin stuff in the red can). The next day I rapped the end of the shaft with a hammer a few times and was able to pull the wheel off the shaft by hand!
 
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I had to use a steering wheel puller, purchased from AutoZone cheap and it worked fine. Next, steering column. The mechanism inside the column itself has play in it and I already purchased a new one. My 18 Fisherman does not have hydraulic steering. Has anyone replaced their steering column on a 18 Fisherman? is it a DIY project? Seems like I can just un-attache the steering cable, remove the column, put the new one in and re-attached the steering cable? Is it that simple?
 
For the record, required socket for a 2006 282 Sailfish steering wheel is a 1-5/8" socket. I bought it on amazon around $10. Also got the 3-leg wheel puller on amazon for $20. Wheel was successfully swapped out and I finally have a suicide knob.
 
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