Withlock Cobra steering maintenance

[sail4fun]

I have a Whitlock Cobra 5R steering wheel/system which is slightly leaking water from te deck. First I thought it was condens water but it is not. It appears that water is slowly leaking via de central axes which is also very creasy. Van it be that I have to top up the crease? If so, how?

[Boracay]

If by "crease" you mean "grease" there should be a grease nipple somewhere. Beg, buy or borrow a grease gun, fill it with good quality marine grease and pump the stuff into the nipple till it starts oozing out. Then clean up the old grease.

If there are no grease nipples then any truck parts store should sell them. Have them installed by a marine professional and do the above.

[Paul L]

I don't believe the Whitlock has a grease fitting. The rust you see may be coming from a sealant leak where the pedestal hits the deck.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, sail4fun.

Whitlock Cobra Installation & Maintenance Guide
➥ http://www.jowners.org/docs/COBRA%20...%20SYSTEMS.pdf

[sail4fun]

I love the forum, although it is my first posting I am already impressed by the reply!

[Pete7]

Could also be a leak from the top plate or compass binacle. Would be worth taking these off which you need to do to get to the top bearing to apply grrease then seal them back down. Ours has a slight leak from the compass binacle if I leave the wheel cover off.

Also worth checking out the yellow wire, does the water run down that? or is it well sealed above the deck?

Pete

[sail4fun]

It appeared indeed to be a leakage via the top plate which was confirmed after putting a plastic bag over the compass. Many thanks for the suggestion, it saves me unnecessary work!

[Tim Godber]

Be careful! You found the leak, but the greasing advice remains valid!

[sail4fun]

Will certainly do so!