Wheel Brake Replacement

[sailcapt340]

On my 2000 340 the Wheel Brake simply does not hold. It will tighten down but it never really held. It's Edson pedestal.
Has anyone done a repair or replacement to fix this? Thanks for the help.

 

[Don12364]

Mine is like that too. When I first had the boat I looked at it very closely and decided that it was nowhere near man enough for its task, particularly if the river ebb was running from stern to bow. Short of completely rebuilding it on a considerably larger scale it never would do the job properly and I was not prepared to do this on a new boat - in 1996.

I elected to live with Edson's shortcoming. So I clove hitched an 18" length of 1/4" diameter line to the top of the stainless hoop directly in front of the wheel and then, every time I leave the boat, I clove hitch the other end to the top of the wheel.
I only use the brake for lightweight tasks just to momentarily hold? (huh) the wheel whilst I briefly do something else in the cockpit. Anything more I just click in the autopilot.

 

[Don Lucas]

Are you sure it doesn't hold the rudder even f it doesn't hold the wheel as the wheel provides a lot of leverage?

I can turn my wheel without too much trouble with the lock on. But when the boat is on the hard I can not push the rudder over with the lock on.

 

[Cool_Change]

2000 340 and same issue here. When we leave the boat I tighten the lock and engage the autopilot (power off). Seems to hold fine then and I don't think detrimental to the autopilot??

 

[Navicula]

I purchased the rebiuld kit...(new brake shoes) and I cleaned up all the parts, installed the kit and it may work a little bit better....but I think I would have been better off saving the 70 bucks for the kit

 

[drchpete]

I did the job on my 466 this summer but because my brake was stuck open and was so stiff it could not be engaged completely. the job is tedious / difficult but not impossible. It got me into the steering pedestal as well for some needed cleaning and lubrication. Edson has a detailed instruction bulletin on how to do the job whish is very accurate and indispensable. Go to their site or call them for this sheet, they were very helpful as well. Follow the instructions to a "T" and you won't go wrong.