[C320-list] Stuck Steering Wheel

[Jeff Hare]

While I'm not certain, I don't think the wheel is chrome.  I think it's polished passivated stainless and will discolor if you heat it too much or too aggressively.

You can heat it with a torch carefully but the key here is that you have to cool/freeze the whole assembly first, then you don't need the hub to get too hot (just uncomfortably warm to the touch) to break it free.  It's really just about needing to get the hub to warm up before the shaft temp catches up.

-Jeff Hare 

-----Original Message-----
From: C320-list [mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of Guy Smith
Sent: Friday, February 16, 2018 10:31 AM
To: C320-List at Catalina320.com; John Ellis <jr_ellis100 at hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [C320-list] Stuck Steering Wheel

 Hey John,
If it doesn't break free after treating it and trying the puller again, you might want to try a heat gun to expand the outer ring. Concentrate the heat on the outer ring and not the post as much as possible.If you have access to a rawhide mallet, when the puller is on give it some wacks. The rawhide mallet shouldn't mar the chrome finish.However, that might not free it. I'm not sure that a torch would be a good thing since the chrome will be discolored, at best...But I've had to resort to a torch to free these kinds of problems with stuck auto and plumbing projects.
Good Luck!
~g
Guy and Liz Smithsv Pleiades C320 #452Worton Creek, MD
    On Thursday, February 15, 2018, 8:53:05 PM EST, John Ellis <jr_ellis100 at hotmail.com> wrote:  
 
 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