Wheel shaft grease

[NateyZ]

I just spent the better part of a week fighting to get my old Yacht Specialties wheel off my pedestal. Ended up having to use a 3 jaw puller a propane torch and a couple hammers. In the end there wasn't too much corrosion holding it on just old grease which has basically turned to varnish. Anyway my question is what type of lube or grease should I use to make sure the wheel will come off easily in the future and make sure I never have to go through this again?

 

[Tom J]

I just spent the better part of a week fighting to get my old Yacht Specialties wheel off my pedestal. Ended up having to use a 3 jaw puller a propane torch and a couple hammers. In the end there wasn't too much corrosion holding it on just old grease which has basically turned to varnish. Anyway my question is what type of lube or grease should I use to make sure the wheel will come off easily in the future and make sure I never have to go through this again?

I would think the same grease you use on your winches. That's what I do, anyway. The trick is to pull the wheel off occasionally and clean the shaft and reapply grease.

 

[Rich Stidger]

Winch grease. But Tom J beat me to the answer!

 

[Stu Jackson]

The trick is to pull the wheel off occasionally and clean the shaft and reapply grease.

I put some on 22 years ago, never reapplied, still smooth. Your boat, your choice.

 

[capta]

What's wrong with good old fashioned Never-Seez (anti-seize compound), after all that's what it was developed for.
We use the copper one (which would work just fine for your application, for SS machine screws in our alloy mast and they all come out easily after years in the sun and salt spray.

 

[markwbird]

I did the exact same thing. Took me two weeks to the darn thing off and I destroyed the puller in the process. I put a small amount of winch grease on there afterward. The problem that I have had is that now the nut won't stay tight. I can't win.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I did the exact same thing. Took me two weeks to the darn thing off and I destroyed the puller in the process. I put a small amount of winch grease on there afterward. The problem that I have had is that now the nut won't stay tight. I can't win.

Clean the grease from the nut and shaft threads. Only grease the taper and key area for the wheel.

 

[Tom J]

Pulling the wheel off occasionally is a must on the C310. In order to work on the engine control panel, the wheel must come off. To use the emergency tiller, the wheel must come off. My neighbors pull their wheel off each time they pack into their slip, to make access through the cockpit easier.

 

[dlochner]

The problem with winch grease is it will harden. Just cleaned my winches and some of the grease was as hard as a rock. If winch greased is used, clean it regularly. Other wise try the blue water proof bearing grease, I'm told it doesn't harden.

In the past I've used a variety of solvents to clean grease, turns out plain old Mineral Spirits works quite well. It softened grease that was at least 10 years old. Much better than kerosene, acetone (which doesn't work all that well) and diesel.

 

[NateyZ]

I did the exact same thing. Took me two weeks to the darn thing off and I destroyed the puller in the process. I put a small amount of winch grease on there afterward. The problem that I have had is that now the nut won't stay tight. I can't win.

I also destroyed a puller and damaged the threads for the nut. Luckily what's left of the threads still hold the nut tight and the puller was a cheap one from harbor freight, I got a 3 pack of them for $20. I cleaned up the shaft with mineral spirits and used a little winch grease, now the wheel slides on and off easily. I doubt the wheel had been removed in over 10 years, but I will take it off clean and regrease regularly. Maybe I'll go to blue grease once the boat stores open back up. Now on to installing my CPT autopilot. Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[jssailem]

When I installed my AP the wheel had to come off. A bit of PB Blaster, time, and a big socket wrench did the trick.

I chose to use Corrosion Block grease. It works. No hardening. Just a smooth light film covering the shaft and threads.

Then add the wheel to your yearly maintenance plan, along with the winches and rudder shaft bearing grease.