2001 C226 steering wheel replacement

[Lake Loon]

I am replacing my steering wheel but may need an adapter. Anyone know if the steering shaft on a 2001 226 is splined or tapered and any other pertinent information? Thanks.

[Lake Loon]

Sorry, wrong boat in the picture. Obviously not a 226.

[Lake Loon]

Here is the right one.

[Big Block Power]

You didn't buy one with the center hub anyway in it? I believe it's tapered with a key way in it.

[Lake Loon]

Thanks very much. I just bought an adapter that mates to a tapered shaft with a key way for $20 + shipping. I'm pretty sure it will work. My boat is stored in a dry stack 40 mins away or I would just remove the old wheel and look. I have to put it in the water to do the work so I'm trying to be sure I have everything I need to do the job before I make the drive and pull the wheel off. Again, thanks for your help. Cheers!

[Big Block Power]

Thanks very much. I just bought an adapter that mates to a tapered shaft with a key way for $20 + shipping. I'm pretty sure it will work. My boat is stored in a dry stack 40 mins away or I would just remove the old wheel and look. I have to put it in the water to do the work so I'm trying to be sure I have everything I need to do the job before I make the drive and pull the wheel off. Again, thanks for your help. Cheers!

Yep bring a hammer you may need it to get it off.

[ggcline]

The steering shaft should be a 3/4" locking tapered shaft. The hub adapter should have a 3/4" hole with 3 keways cut into it. There is a woodruff key on the old wheel that you will reuse on one of the three keways.

There is a large locking nut and washer which secures the steering wheel also. Here is a thread about steering wheel removal.

viewtopic.php?f=44&t=2341

Some owners use penetrating oil and pull the wheel while hammering on the shaft with the nut loosened to protect the threads. Did not work for me and I did some thread damage that Zi had to rethread. The steering wheel can be very difficult to remove.

My advice is to buy a sturdy three arm puller from the local auto parts store if the wheel does not come off with a little hammering. This worked very well and will not damage the threads. Good Luck

[AsLan7]

My advice is to buy a sturdy three arm puller from the local auto parts store if the wheel does not come off with a little hammering. This worked very well and will not damage the threads. Good Luck

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Yes not a big hammer fan in that area. It can be done but it makes me wince. Love those pullers though. They’ve saved me more than a few times over the years on various projects.


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[Lake Loon]

Awesome! Thanks so much. I'll get a puller today and have a go at it.

[dustinm]

You can always zip tie the new wheel on top of the old one. No one will ever notice!!

[Lake Loon]

Hahaha. It may come to that.

[Lake Loon]

OK, so here's the end of the story. After buying an adapter, gear puller and penetrating oil to replace the old steering wheel it turned out all I needed was a Philips head screw driver, an allen wrench and less than 5 minutes. Go figure.

The next project is to replace the instrument panels. Cheers.

[Big Block Power]

OK, so here's the end of the story. After buying an adapter, gear puller and penetrating oil to replace the old steering wheel it turned out all I needed was a Philips head screw driver, an allen wrench and less than 5 minutes. Go figure.

The next project is to replace the instrument panels. Cheers.

Well yea
It's obvious

[Lake Loon]

I really do love this boat!

[skno]

I can see why , it looks great