Irwin 52 steering maintenance - help pls..

[kaikobasai]

Aloha,
Hoping someone could help me figure out what to do about some maintenance on shaft / wheel connection (mech. steering) on Irwin (early 70's) 52. couldn't find make in papers...or much info in manual. Got sloppy on HI crossing - key connection to wheel. Can i increase size of 'key' somehow? any product applications suggested (cleaners, etc..has bronze shaft)?

Also have a 'clicking' sound whenever over to starboard and can't find out why just yet (somewhere up in sprocket assembly) - happens with or without autopilot on.

Aloha and thanks for the help,
kai.

[Rockter]

Put a new key in it and it will probably get rid of some of the play. I was in this situation with the steering head flange on a worm-gear steered boat a wee while back.
If you can get the shaft out of there (not an option for me) you can cut a larger keyway in it, and in the wheel. Be careful though, unless it's on a taper, a keyway is not designed to stand alone... it needs to have a locking bolt on it, often two of them. The key and keyway really should not be able to fret. If they can fret, then the play will just worsen again.

You will have to trace the clicking noise. Get a friend to turn the wheel, and listen until you find it. It sounds like lubrication. It should not be difficult to fix.