[C320-list] Stuck Steering Wheel

[Jeff Hare]

Hi John,

Hard to imagine a gear puller didn't work.  But, try again, this way.

1. Wrap a ziplock baggie full of ice and a bit of saltwater around the hub
to freeze the hub, shaft and key.  
2. After 20 min or so put a decent sized gear puller on and crank it down
quite tight, make sure the jaws are on the back side of the hub and aren't
catching the large washer that is sometimes on the back side.
3. Take a mapp-pro or propane torch and gently and evenly heat the hub (try
to avoid heating the shaft itself). 
4. While doing that, very gently tap the hub between the spokes with a small
steel hammer (don't dent it, just tap tap tap tap).  The vibrations, change
in size from the heat and the pressure from the gear puller will cause it to
break free.

This almost never fails.   Then polish the shaft and inside of the hub with
220 grit paper and coat it with TefGel anti-seize gel and forget about it.

-Jeff Hare

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf
Of John Ellis
Sent: Thursday, February 15, 2018 8:53 PM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] Stuck Steering Wheel

Does anyone have any tricks for removing the wheel when it's stuck? I'm
replacing my autopilot and can't get the wheel to pull off. I tried a gear
puller with no success. I've sprayed P Blaster into the keyway to let it
work overnight and will try again tomorrow. Any suggestions would be very
much appreciated!

John

#271 San Diego