Steering wheel not centered

[JV II]

My steering wheel is turned 90 degrees to starboard when the drives are centered and the boat goes straight. It annoys the heck out of me, not to mention it is awkward for 10-2 hand placement with the spokes where they are. How do I center it? I tried removing the center cap with a screw driver and it seemed to be glued in place. It did not just pop out. As I was prying, I saw rubber glue spreading apart at the gap. I wondered if it would go back in and if I'd find no nut inside, so I stopped. Anyone else have to do this DIY fix?

 

[K-9]

:smt021NO!:huh::wow::huh:
:huh:

 

[Tonka Boater]

You need to pull up on the whole center section with your hands, not the center cap. The center piece is not connected to the spokes and it lifts straight up and there is a nut under it. If your wheel is slotted then it's an easy adjustment.

.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Mike,

As TB said lift the whole rubber piece up that wraps around the the three spokes. You may also find that the wheel is held onto the hub with allen head machine screws. If so, removing these will be a lot easier than pulling the whole hub. It also makes centering easier because you can put a piece of masking tape on the hub. Then drive the boat and mark the 12 o'clock position on the masking tape when drives and boat are going straight. Now you can re-align wheel while tied up at the slip.

Henry

 

[Chris R]

Mike,

As TB said lift the whole rubber piece up that wraps around the the three spokes. You may also find that the wheel is held onto the hub with allen head machine screws. If so, removing these will be a lot easier than pulling the whole hub. It also makes centering easier because you can put a piece of masking tape on the hub. Then drive the boat and mark the 12 o'clock position on the masking tape when drives and boat are going straight. Now you can re-align wheel while tied up at the slip.

Henry

Ditto!! All you need is an allen wrench.

 

[JV II]

Thanks Henry and Cris. I'll try that this weekend.

 

[Pseudomind]

Do you have an Auto Pilot system? If so the next time you are out, engage the Auto Pilot, align you wheel with the pilot on, then disengage it. Should be centered now. Note I did say

..."Do you have an Auto Pilot system?"