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Thanks for the post, Phil. I had see that thread. That's when I realized I had a problem with my helm. I had not noticed the small finger clearance when the helm was still mounted. At first I thought I would reuse the Big-T. The cable looks almost new (there is an adapter to the old helm). The Helm itself seems original based upon the amount of shaft wear at the top bushing). I opened the gearbox for inspection. The gears are in great condition with no discernible backlash. I believe I could replace the top bushing in the shaft collar and have a Big-T helm that functionally is almost perfect. Unfortunately, there is the problem of my pitted bezel. Rechroming is prohibitively expensive, and even with careful repair, the pits would probably soon come back. Replacements are expensive: half the cost of a new mechanical helm kit with a cable!

All things being equal, the Teleflex Safety-T II system would be my replacement helm of choice. I prefer mechanical and no-feedback. If necessary, I can repair the Big-T holes in the console and move shaft axis to the right by 2-3 inches. In the meantime, I will keep my eyes open for a nice looking Big-T chrome bezel. A good price on a used bezel might tip the balance back to the Big-T.


I am beginning to realizing that unexpected problems crop up at every stage of this project, that these problems rarely have simple solutions, and that the solutions inevitably involve uncertainty and extra time, money, and effort. I can't quite decide if the process is sublimely enjoyable, or a series or stress-inducing headaches that will shorten my lifespan!