2002 YL340DL Steering wheel removal

[OCCruiser]

Hello RIBers, I recently purchase a 2002 Zodiak YL340DL with a rubber steering wheel that looks like it has seen better days. I would like to upgrade to a stainless wheel but I've encountered a plate under the center housing that I can't tell if it is just for decoration or it is part of the wheel holding it in place. In the center are 6 studs and in the center is the normal center nut. I removed the center nut and the wheel wont budge. Does the plate with the studs need to be removed? it looks like they are hex keyed studs but they are not. I don't want to destroy the wheel if I don't have to and I'm afraid if I start wrestling with the wheel that I will crack the fiber glass center console.

Any recommendations on removing the wheel? Please see attachment.

Thanks in advance.

[cgoing]

You can start with lots of penetrating oil around the center. The plate you see is part of the wheel and should come off as one piece with the rest of the wheel.

[office888]

Use a gear puller, PB blaster, and heat. Even a heatgun can provide enough heat. The jaws will damage the black bezel behind it, but the wheel will come off. Mine was from 1999. It had so much energy stored, when the corrosion broke, my old steering wheel went flying about 10 ft.

Wear safety glasses.

[jyasaki]

I had pulled my wheel, and used some anti-seize to keep corrosion from starting. Decided to replace the wheel about 2 months later, and it wouldn't budge. Tried all the suggestions above, with the addition of spray freeze to the arsenal. Ended up putting a bearing puller on it, cranking near the point of destroying the puller, and letting it sit. Sitting outside a couple of days later, I heard a loud bang, and went to find the wheel and puller on the deck of the boat.

Lessons learned: Don't use anti-seize (I did use grease this time), and tighten the nut just enough to get wobble out of the hub/shaft join.

jky

[Dirk Diggler]

Wind the nut off till it's held by just a couple of threads, then, whilst sitting on the console facing aft, put as much pressure on the wheel pushing with your thighs, and whack the steering shaft with the biggest hammer you can find, and a centre punch.

Works every time for me......