How to evaluate steering pedestal?

[dmksails]

My boat is a Tashiba-31and has an Edson knockoff wheel pedestal. The wheel moves in/out a good 1/2 inch. I put plastic washers on the shaft to limit the amount of play as it was interfering with the full travel of the shift in reverse.

I've looked and do not see anywhere where I can tighten this up. I don't have a manual and have no idea what the make is - just know it's not Edson (called them) Is this normal, or if this pedestal worn out? Anything else I should check? I would like to eliminate all the solvable problems before I spring for a new pedestal.

[Orion Jim]

A picture is worth a thousand words. Some pedestal brands are easily recognizable so a picture would be beneficial.

[coopec43]

As Orion Jim suggests a picture would help.

https://www.yachtworld.com/yacht/198...ba-31-8421174/

Have you had a look for owner's forums?
https://wp.babaowners.org/about/

https://www.facebook.com/tashingyachts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QH1RQX_4SMI

[tkeithlu]

Could you give us a picture of the mechanism that slides in/out? There are only a limited number of ways of putting something mechanical together, so we might be able to spot the repair needed even if the pedestal is not recognized.

OK. Old guy wants to tell a story. In my first semester of engineering school (1964) we had a shop class in which we were required to construct a little aluminum paper weight that had in it every possibility for manufacture - threads, cut gears, milling, lathe turning, etc. The point was that we not thereafter design something that could not be built in the shop.

Expressed another way, our tools dictate our structures. There are, indeed, only a limited number of ways of putting together a helm, shaft, and gear sprocket, and only a limited number of ways of generating 1/2 inch of longitudinal play in the shaft. You can look at it and say something like "There has got to be a loose shaft key in there."

[coopec43]

Maybe just do a google?

Loose Steering Wheel, Helm?!!!??! - Offshoreonly.com

https://www.offshoreonly.com › ... › Formula
15 June 2012 — If you look up at the helm it looks like the steering column that runs through the wheel is a little loose in the mechanism. Bushing maybe?
Steering Wheel Play 25 Oct 2014
Loose tilt steering8 Aug 2012

Steering wheel has a lot of play
https://forums.iboats.com/threads/st...f-play.301433/