Steering wheel Removal?

[Ron in AZ]

Can any one tell me what is the best way or any way to remove the steering wheel from my 37" Tudor?
I was thinking of drilling two holes and tapping them like on a late model wheel to be able to use a steering wheel puller.
I have tried pulling up on the wheel and with the nut on the shaft loose, hit the shaft with a soft (brass) hammer and that did not work...
Thank you in advance........... Ron

 

[Andy]

You can buy a thing called a bearing seperator at Harbour Freight. It is a split collar. I put it under the wheel with some rag padding and pull up on it with a two jaw puller. It sort of duplicates what Ford used.

 

[denverslim]

Someday when we have more time, I'll be glad to tell you "HOW NOT TO REMOVE YOUR STEERING WHEEL", by Denverslim.
Following directions will have you shopping for a NOS wheel on ebay, But by gawd, I gotter done!...slim

 

[PeteVS]

What you suggested is what I consider the best way. I used that method on a '32. Worked great! 5/16-18 UNC.

 

[Karl Wolf]

I have done your drill and tap- 5/16 18- two holes method, it's worked for me... Karl

 

[Ron in AZ]

Thanks .... I just did that and It was a good thing I did because even with the puller it came off hard !
Thanks every one.... Ron

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

The drill and tap method is a good way to go "IF" you have enough meat (steel) in that area for drilling and taping the threads and "IF" you don't have to drill so deep that you may risk breaking through the plastic at the bottom of the hub area.
After breaking one nice original steering wheel, while trying various methods of removal, I decided to make my own puller when it came time to remove some very nice banjo steering wheels. Pictures of my puller are attached below just in case you or someone else wants to take the time to make something like this. Good luck, JM

 

[FlatheadTed]

That a nice job JM ,good engineering.

The drill and tap method is a good way to go "IF" you have enough meat (steel) in that area for drilling and taping the threads and "IF" you don't have to drill so deep that you may risk breaking through the plastic at the bottom of the hub area.
After breaking one nice original steering wheel, while trying various methods of removal, I decided to make my own puller when it came time to remove some very nice banjo steering wheels. Pictures of my puller are attached below just in case you or someone else wants to take the time to make something like this. Good luck, JM

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

That a nice job JM ,good engineering.

Thanks Ted. I spent my entire career engineering and now that I'm retired I can't seem to stop engineering things. I've made about a dozen different tools to use on these old Fords just for the fun of doing it. Now I need a set of brake floaters for my '35 but have no plans to reinvent the wheel, I'll just buy a set of your well engineered floaters Cheers, JM

 

[Andy]

JM, That is nice but my HF bearing seperator works exatly the same and can be used to actually seperate bearings also. It is even beveled like yours!

 

[Gary in Mozarks]

I pulled my 39 wheel by drilling, but I used 3 holes instead of 2 I figured it would give the bolts more grip and it worked slick. I just used the three dimples already on the wheel.
Gary in mozarks

 

[Ron in AZ]

JM, and Andy ,those are great ways to remove a steering wheel . But on my 37' the steering wheel is a standard and the whole thing is "plastic"(for a lack of the correct term).
The underside that meets up to the steering column is all plastic and of course it is cracked in places , so I had to drill and tap with no other chose of method for removing it. I will remember to try either other way the next time I have a wheel that can be done that way.
A big thank you to both of you for sharing your method of removal !
Thank you again .... Ron

 

[JM 35 Sedan]

JM, That is nice but my HF bearing seperator works exatly the same and can be used to actually seperate bearings also. It is even beveled like yours!

Andy, whatever method or tool that works well to remove the wheel without damaging it in any way is good. I have some bearing separators myself but did not think about using one for the lower part of my steering wheel puller. I had this idea in my head one night to make something sort of like the one pictured. Most all of those pieces and the hardware on mine are scrap stuff that our test department, at the company I worked for, was throwing away. Once a piece of test equipment went bad or became obsolete they would just scrap everything and have new made. That's when things were going good for them financially. Now they are scratching to save pennies where ever possible. Keep 'em running and keep 'em flat JM