Steering wheel removal

Hey. I'm restoring an '86 Martinique and I want the wheeel off. I've tried pop it off with a hammer to the shaft and a wheel puller, but no luck. I'm afraid to apply too much pull or pop. Any suggestions. Also, I'm missing an allen head screw to the hub. I think this was a standard wheel to all correct craft in "86. Thanks, Philip

I've used the wrong puller, for sure. I'll have to try to find one of the "plate" types you suggested. Auto parts stores have a variety of pullers to loan, so I'll see. On the wheel that apparently came with the boat, there are 6 stainless (or chrome) Allen head screws that hold the wheel spokes and rim assembly to the hub, and I'm missing one. My main concern with the wheel pulling is that the hub seems to be some kind of "pot metal", and my experience with these materials is that they'll crack with too much pressure. I have lubed the shaft with Blaster penetrating oil and have left it to "sit" while I find another puller. What I really need to do is get the whole steering package out of the dash, because the original purpose in removing the wheel assembly was to remove the teak panel under it for refinishing. Thanks for your help. Philip

Wow, Pete, good thing I checked with you. I don't know, I'm at my store. I had left the nut on the end of the threaded part of the shaft so I could attempt to "pop" it loose with a hammer. As far as I know all the trim's off. When I get home, I'll look to see what you're talking about. The hub I was refering to is the "crackle-painted" three inch diam.X two inch thick round hub-like piece with the 6 mounting holes for the spoke/rim assembly, and it's fastened to the shaft. I don't recall seeing any other holes or hub for the wheel puller to attach to. We'll see. Thanks, Philip

RedZoom: Hurray! You've got what I have. And thanks for the HD advice.
Look, have you ever had to take the whole thing off the dash? I'm tryiing to get a panel of teakwood off the dash to refinish it. I'm afraid I'm going to have to unbolt everything from behind the dash to get the steering gear housing off of it, which is going to be a b__ch of a job because I'll have to work from a cramped spot inside the console. Your help and everyone else's I've received from The Forum is greatly appreciated. Philip

Donald,
I don't have any experience with the paint kit you mentioned but I can help with the center cap. Look for a round "snap ring" in a groove at the outside edge of the cap. You'll need to find the gap between the two ends of the ring and then with something small like a ice pick or scribe get under one end and pull the ring out.