Removing Table Stem

nymonymgr

New Member
Oct 18, 2009
157
Long Island, NY
Boat Info
2008 330 Sundancer, Kohler 5KW Genset, Raymarine C80 Plotter/Radar, TracVision M3 - 2009 SeaDoo GTI
Engines
Twin 8.1 Horizon V-Drives, Mercury DTS, Bow Thruster
Out of all the things we need to do know how to do as boat owners, the one thing that still puzzles me is figuring out the best way to loosen up a table top from it's stem.

This happens on both my cockpit and salon tables. Leave them up long enough and it feels as they are almost glued together!!

So, in trying to remove the stem from my teak salon table before storing for the winter I literally ripped the mount off the bottom of the table! :smt021

Not the end of the world and fixing it wont' be a big deal.

However, would love to hear of any tricks out there for separating the stem from a table!!

Thanks!!
 
Try using the kind of rubber strap oil filter remover. It's the kind where the strap goes around the oil filter and there's a handle that gives you more leverage. Rock the pedestal back and forth in the bottom of the table and it will loosen with the strap.

You might also give it a very light shot of WD-40.
 
Aluminum has a high coefficient of expansion, like copper. If it's really stuck hard, drop some ice down inside the tube, and it will shrink faster than the table socket. Yank it out.....then clean the OD and ID mating surfaces. There is probably some galling. Spray a little WD40 or put a little chapstick on it and it should be good.

Don
 
I gave the floor socket a little coating with Vaseline. :thumbsup:
 
Aluminum has a high coefficient of expansion, like copper. If it's really stuck hard, drop some ice down inside the tube, and it will shrink faster than the table socket. Yank it out.....then clean the OD and ID mating surfaces. There is probably some galling. Spray a little WD40 or put a little chapstick on it and it should be good.

Don

:thumbsup::thumbsup: I agree 110%.

I agree 110% about the ice but not the chapstick, WD40 or Vaseline suggestions. All of those attract dirt and will compound the problem in the future. You are better off using a teflon spray that is grease-less when it dries as it will give you the same effect as chapstick, etc. without the mess.
 
im thinking if i can get the post out of the floor and table ill buy a table stand with feet with one of the pistons u can move up and down.
 
Small amount of WD40 and use a rubber mallet to set it free.
 
We seldom use the table stand in the cabin, but I always take the one in the cockpit apart, and clean the ends of the post with one of those Handi-wipes and stow it after each outing.

One of the advantages of owning a smaller cruiser .. we need the extra space! :thumbsup:
 
If you put your face over the tube and pull VERY lightly it will jump out and hit you in the face!! We use cooking spray because that's all we ever seem to have handy when we need to lubricate it. Then we use a wiggle/circular motion. Somehow KY seems like it would be a good match????
 
All of those attract dirt and will compound the problem in the future.
Dirt what dirt ??. Don't you guys clean your boat everyday when you're on it.??.

I wear socks when I'm in the cabin & the shoes stay on the stairs. :thumbsup:
 
PB Blaster my friend! When I purchased my 330 the cockpit table pole was corroded in the floor socket from the previous season. WD 40 did nothing. I hit it a few times with PB Blaster and tapped with a rubber mallet and it came right out. I then cleaned up both surfaces with some Scotchbrite and keep it lubricated with some snap/zipper lube from WM when I use it. I also remove it after each use to avoid problems in the future!
Todd
 
Thanks everyone. All great ideas!!! I'll try the spray Teflon, rubber mallet and not leaving them up for weeks at a time!!
 
When I use the ice trick I put the ice in a baggie, then I don't have to clean up a mess,sure glad I am lazy, that's how I come up with these.
I also spay the table leg and the zippers on my boat with silicon. You can buy it at Wal-mart, it does not harm the top and makes the zippers like brand new, does not attract dirt and is cheap, less expensive. Try it you will love the results.

Ken
 

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