Replacing Your Steering Wheel
So it’s time to change your steering wheel because for whatever reason it no longer vibes with your aesthetic: yellowed color from sun-bleaching, sticky from too many spilled beers, peeling finish, blah blah blah...doesn’t matter. It’s time to switch things up and we’re here to show you how to do it.
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1. First things first, remove the center cap from the wheel. Note that some caps are push-in while others may be bolted in place.
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2. Now that you’ve removed the cap and exposed the retaining nut, go ahead and remove this retaining nut and washer. You’ll probably need a ¾” socket and ratchet, but not necessarily.
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3. With the retaining nut and washer removed, remove the steering wheel from the shaft. Obviously this sounds easier than it is so feel free to use a puller to get it loose. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to use a little force to get things going.
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4. At last, after all that work you should finally have your bare tapered shaft and woodruff key. In most cases, this will be a ¾” tapered shaft, but this isn’t always the case so it’s important to measure your shaft to make sure. You know the saying: measure twice, cut once.
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5. Now there’s nothing left but to slide the new wheel and adapter into place. Below, we’ve gone ahead and shown the two most common adapter styles. On the left, a tapered adapter which we’ll be using in this application, and on the right a splined adapter.
While splined adapters aren’t as common as their tapered counterparts, they are used in some applications; and unfortunately, if this is the adapter style you have, you’re probably going to have to purchase a new adapter as most modern steering wheels will not work with a splined adapter.
Worse yet, if your boat is from the 70s or early 80s, you may find yourself stuck with a square shaft. If that’s the case, be prepared to purchase and install an entirely new steering system.
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6. But back to business, go ahead and align the adapter with the woodruff key. In the instance you have a tapered adapter and shaft, you must use a woodruff key to keep the wheel locked in position with the steering shaft. Otherwise, you're gonna be stuck working with an uncooperative steering system.
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7. Reinstall the washer and lock nut onto the shaft and tighten securely. When installed correctly, the wheel should not wobble or jiggle.
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8. Finally, replace the steering cap. Congratulations; you’ve just upgraded your steering wheel on your own. Firm handshakes all around and a cold one on us.
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