1933/34 Steering Wheel Removal

the.secret.victoria

the.secret.victoria

Junior Member
What's the process for getting the steering wheel off of a stock '33/34 column?

Obviously, the horn button assembly needs to come out, but is that as simple as disconnecting the wiring at the bottom and then pulling from the inside? Does the column need to be dropped so the rod can clear the roof when it's pulled all the way out?

Does the steering wheel require a special puller?
 
Since you didn't state what body style you have, the only way you will know if you have to drop the steering column is to start the horn rod removal process. Once the horn rod is removed, you may have to borrow somenes KRW steering wheel puller. I have had limited success spraying some lubriant around the tapered end and shaking it up and down, side to side. Don't be too aggressive as you have to be careful and not crack the plastic. I have a friend who made his own steering wheel puller by taking a torque tube collar, a piece of plate steel with a threaded hole in the center for a bolt with a point turned on the end. He then drilled 4 holes to match the collar holes (you still have to use the two bolts to hold the halves together) You have to put the collar on bottom of the wheel (in reverse), after purchasing four bolts long enough to reach from the plate through the collar and then use the center bolt like a puller. I hope this description helps a little bit.
 
Assuming your are removing the horn rod from a Victoria (closed car)?? Once you get the clip off the end of the horn rod and ready to pull out, just removing the column drop will not help clear the top inside the car, you will need to, "at best", loosen and or remove a couple of bolts out of the steering box to allow the column to pivot down enough to clear the top inside the car, otherwise you will bend your horn/light rod.
 
I’ve used a steering wheel puller before , just drill and tap two holes in the wheel near the taper opposite from each other, comes off easier that way by breaking the wheel, but now I bought a krw puller which really makes it easy
 
Be very, very careful not to bend the horn rod when removing. If bent it cannot be used in the car again unless you can magically return it to perfectly straight condition.
 
I've tapped holes in a couple of steering wheels. This is one for a banjo. You need to tap close to the hub. For this wheel there wasn't meat of metal in the hub so after tapping I made a a plastic dam to retain original JB Weld. I then sprayed a couple of 5/16 fine thread bolts with cooking spray (e.g., PAM), screwed them in and then filled all around with the epoxy. When I was done I had a lot more threads. I have pulled it with this change and it worked great.


554798


Glenn
 
Not real keen on the idea of attempting to drill and tap the steering wheel to allow use of a modern puller, but I guess I'll see what it looks like after I get the horn switch and rod out of the column.

I guess I'll be on the lookout for a proper tool for the future.

The car is indeed a Victoria, so same effective height and depth as a sedan.
 
I have used a big split bearing remover tool. You can get one from HF. A I put it under the wheel with plenty of rag packing and use a big two jaw puller. I have used this method on all my 32’s for decades. Never hurt anything. I do put a nut on the shaft end for safety.
 
I have a steering wheel puller that has two shafts that pull on the bottom side of the tapered part of the wheel. I was a little scared of it cracking the wheel, so I slipped pieces of heater hose over the shafts where they fit against the bakelite on the wheel. That worked. I think it's a Snap-On wheel puller. It's been a while since I've used it or even seen it. It was in a collection of tools I inherited from my grandfather.
 
Ask at your local EFV8 or Model A club and see if they have a puller to loan. If they don't maybe you could convince them to buy one.

Charlie Stephens
 
This is Snap-On's version of the KR Wilson puller. In my opinion, it works better than the KR Wilson tool. They are out there. I got mine on Ebay. It has yet to meet a wheel it couldn't remove.
 

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Tim Ayers said:
This is Snap-On's version of the KR Wilson puller. In my opinion, it works better than the KR Wilson tool. They are out there. I got mine on Ebay. It has yet to meet a wheel it couldn't remove.
Click to expand...

That is the exact same Snap-On one that I have. That KRW one is pretty neat too, I've never seen one of those before.
 
I have both th Snapon and the KRW. Both great as I dred ever breaking an original steering wheel. So difficult to find in good condition.
 
I took some old parts and made a puller that seems to work well. It is not rocket science, However, I think I am gonna start buying the KRW and Snap-On pullers that become available. It won't be long and the market will tank and I can have my family throw them in the hole with me! LOL
 
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