steering wheel linkage issue

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   hi to all,

I need your advice about a steering problem I just experienced last night while sailing betwen Sardinia and Corsica.

essentially , while being on autopilot , the port steering wheel (the one connected to the other bar , so without load) made a noise and suddenly disconnected from the rudder.

inspecting the connection the transmission wires are loose, therefore the wire+chain loop got broken or disconnected. while sailing , I removed the chain onto the gearbox to avoid any interference with the rudder movement.

the cable transmitting the wheel rotation got lose somewhere on the wheel hub, because the lower chain on the gearbox and its connection to the wires is intact.

what's the best way to access the upper part of the steering system in order to identify the failure? I guess that the wheel is connected to a chain hub, that acts on a piece of chain that is connected to the steel wire like below the deck. how to access the piece of chain sitting on the wheel hub ? how to extract the cables for inspection /repair ? it seems that the first pulley connected to the wheel assembly  prevents to extract the wire ends...

as a second question , while I was inspecting the port system during real world sailing conditions I could hear some grinching noises from the starboard side , where the autopilot was working. it is not the (jefa) autopilot itself , but somewhere in the transmission (bars, chains, gearboxes, wooden wall). since I just greased all the system , verified the tensions and the bolts , this surprised me. I couldn't hear the same grinching noise when I tested the system in the harbour. could it come from the lewmar gearbox itself? I would like to think it's the wooden panel, but I know that Leon is very suspicious about these boxes because they are subject to wear. most importantly : how to do the correct  maintenance of these gearboxes? any grease or oil that can be added without removing them ? I admit that I consider them sealed systems ,and I never extracted them from the boat for mechanical inspection...

Any advice on both subjects ? 

thanks to everybody in advance ,
piero

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Pzucchel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 13 March 2020 Location: floating Status: Offline Points: 659	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pzucchel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Topic: steering wheel linkage issue Posted: 21 May 2025 at 08:22
	hi to all, I need your advice about a steering problem I just experienced last night while sailing betwen Sardinia and Corsica. essentially , while being on autopilot , the port steering wheel (the one connected to the other bar , so without load) made a noise and suddenly disconnected from the rudder. inspecting the connection the transmission wires are loose, therefore the wire+chain loop got broken or disconnected. while sailing , I removed the chain onto the gearbox to avoid any interference with the rudder movement. the cable transmitting the wheel rotation got lose somewhere on the wheel hub, because the lower chain on the gearbox and its connection to the wires is intact. what's the best way to access the upper part of the steering system in order to identify the failure? I guess that the wheel is connected to a chain hub, that acts on a piece of chain that is connected to the steel wire like below the deck. how to access the piece of chain sitting on the wheel hub ? how to extract the cables for inspection /repair ? it seems that the first pulley connected to the wheel assembly prevents to extract the wire ends... as a second question , while I was inspecting the port system during real world sailing conditions I could hear some grinching noises from the starboard side , where the autopilot was working. it is not the (jefa) autopilot itself , but somewhere in the transmission (bars, chains, gearboxes, wooden wall). since I just greased all the system , verified the tensions and the bolts , this surprised me. I couldn't hear the same grinching noise when I tested the system in the harbour. could it come from the lewmar gearbox itself? I would like to think it's the wooden panel, but I know that Leon is very suspicious about these boxes because they are subject to wear. most importantly : how to do the correct maintenance of these gearboxes? any grease or oil that can be added without removing them ? I admit that I consider them sealed systems ,and I never extracted them from the boat for mechanical inspection... Any advice on both subjects ? thanks to everybody in advance , piero
	Hanse588#55

Black Diamond Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admiral Joined: 24 October 2015 Location: Newport, RI, US Status: Offline Points: 1275	Post Options Post Reply Quote Black Diamond Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 21 May 2025 at 23:08
	Haven't had to do it yet, so I am watching for responses as well. I assume you have this diagram?
	Rick S/V Black Diamond Hanse 575 Build #192, Hull# 161 Newport, RI

Pzucchel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 13 March 2020 Location: floating Status: Offline Points: 659	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pzucchel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2025 at 06:45
	actually i didn't have it, and this one seems for the 575. i assue it is the same for the 588...surprisingly, there is no part number for the chain+wire assembly.... Latest news: the chain at the top is broken. It had various signs of oxidation, and some chain elements are "cracked", one of which showing an old crack. Surprising, because i never use the port wheel...the starboard seems ok. I admit i never greased and lubrificated the top chain, but only the lower chain. Now that i know how to access it i will do it regularly. I have to decide if i am going to buy a complete wire+chain link or just a motorbike chain cut to the right length. Anybody has experience on this? do you suggest me to contact lewmar, boatoon or somebody else for a rapid solution?
	Hanse588#55

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2025 at 07:20
	Sometimes back I initiated a similar thread with tons of useful information and advises posted. Check it out: https://www.myhanse.com/steering-chain-failure_topic14094.html

Pzucchel Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 13 March 2020 Location: floating Status: Offline Points: 659	Post Options Post Reply Quote Pzucchel Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2025 at 13:44
	very useful , I didn't see it before. I an still trying to understand if the linkage is from lewmar or from jefa...I think it's the last one, but how can I know it ?
	Hanse588#55

marsella Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Rear Admiral Joined: 21 June 2022 Location: Antigua Jolly H Status: Offline Points: 592	Post Options Post Reply Quote marsella Report Post Thanks(0) Quote Reply Posted: 22 May 2025 at 16:42
	The roller chain that both Lewmar and Jefa are using could be from any supplier. I was advised to buy a replacement made by Tsubaki, but min lenght on sale was 10 feet; I eventually bought 3 feet of chain from Lewmar, it came marked "made in Spain" or something like that.



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