Need help Different Steering wheel 1996 202

[Bassman53]

I am trying to find a different steering wheel for the 202. I am not the smallest guy in town and the steering wheel pushes so far out with the seastar hydro steering. So i am trying to find a slightly smaller diameter wheel or atleast one that can be reversed to telescope towards the console or atleast flat with the mounting. It seems like all i find are wheels like the stock that push further away. I know Ranger steering wheels are pretty flat just not sure if they fit the 3/4 taper keyed shaft.
Any ideas?
96 Champ steer2.jpg

[kris_tx]

202 consoles are tight. I have a tilt helm on mine. I think there is a recess kit for the helm that will let it sit into the console more.

[Bassman53]

I'm going to switch to the rear mount helm, anyone know which displacement to use? I see a 1.4, 1.7, 2.4?

[kris_tx]

Have you looked at the bezels?
Standard Helm « Teleflex Marine

[Bassman53]

Have you looked at the bezels?
Standard Helm « Teleflex Marine

Thank you that will work, I did not see those.

[Wags]

If I'm not mistaking the HA5418 will not work, the helm will need the HA5478 kit because you will need to set the helm back and drill a hole in the top of the dash for the fill hole. Its been awile since I talk to them on the phone about it. Anyways I did buy the HA5478 kit and still have it but I did not install it because I had to drill a larger hole and it was going to be way to close to the outer edge for me and the shop I took it to after I decided I did not want to do this on my own. Oh and also the shop did have it all apart and with the helm relocated behind, the glass would have needed to be cut down also from the helm design we have on our boats. Mine is a 1996 186, same helm. I will go out to the garage and try to refresh my memory on this.

[kris_tx]

I saw a picture of somebody's 186 console and it had the HA5478 kit on it.

[Wags]

I saw a picture of somebody's 186 console and it had the HA5478 kit on it.

I'm not saying its not possible but with what had to be cut out in the back and front I was not going to do it. The angle of the helm makes it even harder to set it because of the excess glass behing the helm because of the design of it.
Also bassman if your interested in the kit I have one, and I got it from this site. Pm me with your addy if interested and I can send it out if you want. It took about 3 weeks or so to get it because it was not a in stock item.

SIERRA HA5478 -

[Bassman53]

I ended up getting the kit from Wags, which I must say is a fantastic person. He saw I needed help sent the part my way and never asked for a dime just to see if it was what would help me. Wags you are a class A person my friend.
I ended up going a different direction and just changed out to a rear mount helm and then made a spacer that pushed it even further back to make it look nice .
Pics are not great, at night outside, just finished too excited to wait for daylight. And going fishing in the AM too.
96 Champ steer.jpg96 Champ 3.jpg96 Champ steer2.jpg

[bigfish1259]

Looks like I'll be facing this same issue when I tackle mine in the upcoming months. I agree Wags, I don't think I want to drill in my dash either, Kris I like the sound of the tilt steering what kit is that??? Bassman53 I can't open your pics, but would love to see your retrofit...

[Bassman53]

Bassman53 I can't open your pics, but would love to see your retrofit...

I tried to change the pics so you can see them, let me know if this worked. I am modifing my Champion center cap to go in the steering wheel. T
he rear mount helm is just the standard rear mount helm you can buy. The 3/4 spacer I added I made in my machine shop at work (if you go this route let me know and I can make you one). Your front mount helm has 4 bolts and the rear mount has 3 bolts. So all you have to do is drill 3 holes to mount the rear mount helm. The 3/4 inch spacer helps sandwich the front plate you see in the pics and the helm to hold the dash better since the hole in your dash now is a bit too big for a rear mount helm. With out the spacer the steering wheelwould stick out another 3/4inch. I like the look of it closer to the dash, I had to go to 1/2inch longer bolts (I will replace with button head when i get back to work, For looks). I opted not to drill another hole and mount the remote fill tube for the helm for 2 reasons, 1, i would have had to lower the helm to allow the elbow to fit, 2, i can not recall the last time i had to add oil to my steering helm so i will just pull the wheel and 3 bolts if i need to later.

[Wags]

Bassman53 thank you for the compliments I was truely happy to help out anyway I could. Thanks for some details on your new helm kit, any info you can pass along to the group here would be great. I'm very interested in everything you did and I see Tom is also, all 3 of us have the same dash, helm area. Hope the fishing was good for you this morning.

[bigfish1259]

Bassman53 that looks good will a blinker trim work on that???

[Bassman53]

Bassman53 that looks good will a blinker trim work on that???

I dont have one on this boat yet, so I can not answer that at this time. But I will be adding one and will come up with an answer eventually, but not today
Today was my first time on the water in this boat, I still need to put on my HDS7 and HDS8.

[kris_tx]

I have the sea star sport tilt helm. I can post a pic later.

[DaveH]

I'm 6'3" and the extension on the hydro steering is a bit of a knee knocker but its not a big deal, over time these units always start leaking at the wipers and having the fill area easily accessed is good, curious how your going to put a remote fill on yours.
I just saw your boat is on the market for sale, wheeler dealer.... Nice rig...

[Bassman53]

Got too use to my 206, the 202 just isnt quite the right fit for my style. Great speed and ride just not what i am use to.

[BILLY]

Yea, I was wondering why it was for sell.

[kris_tx]

Here is a picture of my dash.
dash.jpg

[bigfish1259]

I like that Kris, Is that the standard teleflex kit with tilt steering???