Hydraulic helm issue

[rigi36]

Looking for some advice on woodruff keys for hydraulic helm.

Lost the original key when taking off the wheel so bought the replacement for the multisteer HP-16 helm which is listed everywhere as a flat key wk-4.

It however doesn't fit. It's too long and wide to fit into the slot (which is also semicircular so am confused by the flat key design for this particular helm.

Does anyone know what is wrong here? Thanks.

[Pikey Dave]

Wrong key. You need a Woodruff key, which is the semicircular type. They are pretty standard sizes, so you should be able to measure it & get one from either a local engineering supplier, try bearing companies e.g. Brammer/Hayley/Erics. Failing that online. Or you could make one.

[rigi36]

Thanks. I'm confused as to why the manual mentions flat keys and this is the spare/model they sell.

Just strange.

I've ordered a set of woodruff keys on Amazon so hopefully one will fit.

[beamishken]

Originally Posted by rigi36

Thanks. I'm confused as to why the manual mentions flat keys and this is the spare/model they sell.

Just strange.

I've ordered a set of woodruff keys on Amazon so hopefully one will fit.

If you dont get one that's exactly right it's easy enough to file or grind one to fit. Once tightened up the key should be doing very little as the taper takes the load, that said I wouldnt not fit one.

[Nasher]

I can confirm a Woodruff Key is easy enough to form if needed, and it reminds me of this story which possibly helps explain the breed-in ethos of 'make do and mend' that I have to this day.

A late 70's Family holiday in Devon when I was @12yrs old, staying in a static caravan right on the beach.

The boat engine had been serviced by a professional as Father had been working right up to the holiday. It never had been before and certainly wasn't afterwards.

The flywheel nut hadn’t been tightened up so sheared the Woodruff key holding the flywheel to the crankshaft.

A spare woodruff key was a trip all the way back to Exeter and there was diving to do that afternoon.

I was the only one small enough to crawl under the caravan with a hacksaw to reach the readily available source of steel about the right thickness. The Chassis.
1/2hr later with help from a file the new woodruff key had been shaped and the boat was back in action.

[Peter_C]

Originally Posted by rigi36

Looking for some advice on woodruff keys for hydraulic helm.

Lost the original key when taking off the wheel~

I would find the lost key and be done with the job. Isn't it in the boat? Or on the ground nearby? First rule of dropping something is follow it with your eyes until it stops moving and recover it immediately.

On that I note I dropped a carb jet in gravel and spent an hour looking for it pulling each piece of gravel independently. Once found it is back to work...

[Pikey Dave]

https://shop4fasteners.co.uk/woodruff-keys.html

[tinker]

If your going to make one then use key steel for a permanent fix, I have been unfortunate enough to see keys roll in there slot and it wrecks the shaft and the pulley, in my case.....the lift was down for 4 days (a parts lift)