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Hi Folks,
It's been a long time since I last posted. I'm currently trying to remove my helm on 1972 13' Sport with cable steering to replace the wood interior. My helm has two cotter pins that act as the "woodruff key". The pins are brass. Should I just try to bang it out from the bottom or pull it out? I did this once before and cannot remember the appropriate method without tearing up the brass cotter pins.
Any suggestions would be appreciated!
Thanks,

Denny

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Try pulling. Banging the end of a cotter pin some times flares it, so when it reaches the hole it snags/binds. I have had success by putting a punch in the eye and tapping down. Try real hard to get all the bends out of the pin.
Garris

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I tried, albeit gingerly, to pull the pin out with small vice grips. Didn't budge and started to chew up the exposed end. May try to put some sort of rubber band or cloth around it and try again.

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If it is that snug, by the time you are done twisting, banging, pulling.....probably best to have a replacement pin. Folding that brass really compromises it.
Garris

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Here's a photo of what I'm dealing with...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/1331966...res/ex1dhQ

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I cannot tell from the picture but...is that pin hollow in the center and slotted? If so and you tried driving it out with a nail set punch....you may have already wowed out the size and locked it in place. If that happened you may be able to drive it out with a punch that is slightly smaller diameter of the fixture. You can also drill out the center and collapse the old pin. I do not see the eyelet that would normally be in place with a cotter pin.

Garris

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Well, finally got it out, just needed a larger punch diameter to do the trick.
Now, new wood installation and new cable for the steering are next on the agenda....
Denny