Steering Wheel removal

Baypac

Baypac

Member
What is the next step. Steering wheel has no cracks and the tube is in good shape. I would be willing to sacrifice the steering shaft if necessary to avoid damage to the wheel and tube.
 

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Back the nut off until it is flush with the threaded end of the steering shaft and use a dedicated Model A steering wheel puller. The center portion will push against the nut, protecting the end of the steering shaft. If you try to beat the steering wheel off from behind, you'll end up chipping the heck out of it, as well as possibly breaking off the end of the steering shaft. Do NOT use a "knocker' threaded onto the shaft! This will for sure break off the end of the steering shaft without getting the steering wheel off. Either borrow a Model A steering wheel removal tool from a friend or local club, or buy one from a Model A vendor. If you plan on restoring other Model A's, this is a great tool to have handy in your garage.
Marshall
 
Marshall V. Daut said:
Back the nut off until it is flush with the threaded end of the steering shaft and use a dedicated Model A steering wheel puller. The center portion will push against the nut, protecting the end of the steering shaft. If you try to beat the steering wheel off from behind, you'll end up chipping the heck out of it, as well as possibly breaking off the end of the steering shaft. Do NOT use a "knocker' threaded onto the shaft! This will for sure break off the end of the steering shaft without getting the steering wheel off. Either borrow a Model A steering wheel removal tool from a friend or local club, or buy one from a Model A vendor. If you plan on restoring other Model A's, this is a great tool to have handy in your garage.
Marshall
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Thanks, Marshall. I have wanted an original steering wheel for my Sport Coupe for a long time because I want it to be as original as possible. This wheel is great with only some weathering on the back. I ordered a Snyder’s puller.

Jack
 
Also drop a 3/8" bolt down the top of the steering shaft for the puller's center shaft to push against. The large nut will keep the shaft from mushrooming outwards as pressure is applied. The bolt head will protect the top of the shaft and give the puller something to press against.
The wheel may not come right off. They usually don't. Put as much pressure on as you can before the puller adapter starts to bend. Take a hammer and smack the end of the puller's center a couple times to send shock waves through the steering shaft. This will help separate it from the steering wheel's hub. If this doesn't work, let the puller sit in position overnight. You may hear a loud "Bang!" when the steering wheel pops loose. Kinda' scary the first time you hear this pop, but reassuring every time afterwards. That means the steering wheel is loose. Remove the bolt and complete unscrewing the shaft nut. Then the steering wheel can be lifted off the shaft. No harm, no foul. Nothing broken or compromised.
Marshall
 
2831A’s said:
Put the nut back on by a couple threads and just pull up on it.. No puller needed
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Some are so tight that just pulling back on it doesn't work. I'd spray the splines with Kroil and try the puller as Marshall suggested. If it doesn't come off then leave the puller pressure applied overnight, as sometimes time or temp change will help with removal.
 
The only steering wheels I've been able to remove without a puller were in "restored" Model A's, or ones that have had the wheel off in the previous 20 years for steering box rebuilds or a wheel replacement. I don't know what the factory did to seat those puppies, but if a steering wheel has never been removed in the past 90 years, it will not come off by simply jerking it. If it does, you're exceedingly lucky.
Marshall
 
Steering wheel is off. No damage and an original wheel to restore. The Snyder puller was great and the suggestion by Marshal to put a 3/4" bolt in the steering worked like a charm. Given the amount of pressure required (actually bent the puller a little), the shaft would have definitely been damaged.

Thanks to everyone.
 

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Hurray and congratulations! We love success stories here, especially when no Model A was injured. :) Now you can be the go-to-guy when local Model A owners need to pull their steering wheels - you've got the tool and the experience! :)
Marshall
 
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