Stubborn steering wheels?

[Hewart]

G'day guys...

Dumb question I know because they're just supposed to come off, but I'm having a little trouble taking the steering wheel off my sedan... I have had it off before, but can't seem to budge it this time

Last night on the way home from work I got stuck in 2nd gear... It was a long trip home I can tell 'ya...!

As far as I can work out the gearbox is fine and the linkages seem OK. The problem seems to be in the gear selector itself I'm guessing... but I can't tell until I remove the damn wheel!

I have had a problem there before (opposite problem... the gearstick and indicator stick spun around, non-fixed style... 2 hands on a clock almost).... now it's jammed!

The harder I try to get it off at the moment, the more seems to break off the wheel (it was very cracked and brittle). I have a spare, but wasn't expecting to have to use it....

Any ideas...? Bigger hammer maybe :-/

Thanks in advance
Les.... :-/

[Hewart]

Slightly ironic my avatar is a steering wheel I know!! I think I'd better change that!!

[fccool59]

i hope you still have the nut on a bit, the wack in the forhead you can get from these sux.
last time i had one stuck i drove from newcastle to tamworth with the nut finger tiight, when i got there a mate up there jumped in and pulled it straight of, his muscles must have been even bigger than mine.
I think it is best to pull it just below the spokes on each side and strauight up at the angle the column is on, you can tap the centre a little but you dont want to stuff the sterring box.
is this a auto?
what colum is it, i have ej auto colum parts here if you need any bits for nothing.
have you checked everything down the bottom end?

[TAYZ]

Les, last time this happened to me I pulled mine to bits and it where it is now.................  I actually snapped my linkages in behind the honey pot.  I eventually got it off but hitting the nut, hard but not overly hard and it finally came off.  I now have to be real careful as i have  fully restored wheel about to go on it, good luck!!

                                                            tayz

[mcl1959]

Les, surely someone in the NSW club would have a puller they can lend you.  I have one here and they make the job very simple


Ken

[Maco]

Hi Les,

I have a wheel removing tool (PULLER) I will take it with me to the meeting on Tuesday night or if you want it earlier contact RET he has my number, or I can it take to work with me tomorrow if you want, I am at Wetherill Park.

Cheers John.

[graham_fuller]

Hi Les,
I have a modified puller that I have used before you can borrow it anytime.
Cheers,
Graham

[Hewart]

Thanks everyone...!

It's an original manual column Leon.... thanks anyway! I do have a spare (complete with steering box), it's from a standard I think as it's got no indicators.... maybe I'll end up having to use it for parts!

Thanks to John, RET I'll be heading out in search of Wetherill Park tomorrow morning before I come to work to pick up John's puller and give that a go......

Than I've just got to find the problem!!

Cheers
Les...

[Hewart]

I wasn't able to get to Wetherill Park after all, so picked up Graham's wheel puller late on Saturday arvo.... Made the job much easier!!

The problem ended up being in the "honeypot". As pictured it was snapped so I couldn't change gears.......





Left: the broken piece, and right: how it should look...


All working fine now...! Thanks all for your advice!
Les....

[FCGos]

I know this subject has been posted for quite some time but a proven method of removing a stubborn steering wheel is;  Loosen nut to just above the top of the thread on the column (shaft) whilst sitting in the drivers seat place both knees under steering wheel and exert upward pressure, using two ball pein hammers place one ball side down on the steering shaft and take the other hammer and hit the first firmly.  One or two definite blows will see the wheel come loose. Then take the nut all the way off and remove the wheel.  If the nut is a little tight work it in both directions and all should be good.  Before reassembly check that no threads have come away from the nut otherwise it will need replacement, athread or two of the top of the column should not be a problem as the nut when tightened generally will go past this point and therefore remain secure again.

Cheers FCGos

[DN2168]

I probably wouldn't be hitting 2 hammers together as they can shatter....not a good look.

Dean.

[59fcholden]

I probably wouldn't be hitting 2 hammers together as they can shatter....not a good look.

Dean.

Thats a myth, didnt they try this on Mythbusters and only succeeded on bending the handles?

[TTV6FC]

FC Gos's method works well as I have used it many times before although if you are real carefull you don't need two hammers.I just do the same thing with the knees under the wheel then have the nut (not the retaining nut) level with the end of the thread then crack it with a flat faced hammer.Never had one that didn't come off....Cheers,Jamie.

[EffCee]

I used to work as a front end, wheel alignment specialist, one of the chaps where I used to work, after performing a wheel alignment and taking the car for a drive realised the steering wheel wasn't quite centre, He tried the same method as TTV6 described with the knnes and the steering wheel and give the centre of the steering shaft a good smack with the hammer. Much to his horror he hit it too hard and sheared the nylon pin that allows the steering shaft to collapse. He then had to remove the column and fit a replacement steering shaft, boss was not happy Jan.

Moral of the story, while taking shortcuts will work 99% of the time, sooner or later you are going to get caught out, so try and use the proper tools. It is really easy to make a good steering wheel puller. When you have some spare time, knock one up, shouldn't take any more than a couple of hours.

Keith
F4+
 

[smithy]

the first wheel i removed was on my old EH, and no one informed me about leaving the nut on the shaft......

on good heave later, and yeah you know. not sure if the nose broke but there was a horrible crack and a crackling sound whenever i touched my nose for a while. tookbloody ages to get the blood stain off the crushed velvet..

it only happened once i'll tell you..