Steering wheel remover tool

[Anders]

Quite a while since I visited this thread.
I fixed myself a tool last year before I sended my steering wheel to Jed Zimmerman for a restoration job. A stunning job by him. Other "vintage-car-friends" are very impressed. As a matter of fact, Iīm right now working with putting it back, but unfortunally my "c" clips is broken and I need to find a new one before I can go any further.

[tbird430]

In the posted pic of the steering wheel "puller" tool, the main body (which the center bolt threads into) is flipped around incorrectly. The flat machined side should rest against the 2 outter bolt heads when being used....

-Jon

[Hawkrod]

You can use fan bolts if you have extras laying around. Don't use them on a fan again as they stretch quite a bit when being used on a puller but when I am in a junkyard that is where I grab them (I carry a plate with holes in it and grab bolts in the junkyard, less to carry!), Hawkrod

[JohnG]

Prior to setting the puller up, you can possibly loosen things up a bit in the following way: pull on the wheel with one arm wrapped around it while taking a modest ball peen hammer and giving the threaded shaft that the nut came off of a few taps. Don't overdo it and damage the threads on the shaft. If you have a friend to help, this is good. One can pull on the wheel and the other tap.

You could also put a spare nut on the very end of the shaft and hit that. The threads will be protected while the nut doesnt matter.

The basic idea is the shock of the hammer strikes may break some of the bonds holding the steering wheel on. Kind of like a poor man's impact gun. Basically the same method you might use to get the flywheel off of a push type Briggs and Stratton lawn mower.

John

[simplyconnected]

[quote=Anders Myrberg;21475]That didnīt work Not sure if itīs stuck too hard, or if Iīm too weak... quote]

Don't feel bad. My first puller bent real bad. I welded long legs onto the flat part and started cranking. It got harder and harder, finally it went "C - R - A - C - K" and all the puller pieces cut loose. It's a GOOD THING I left the nut on, but backed out. I KNOW that steering wheel would have taken my head off! This is no joke. For the first few seconds, I didn't know what happened. Then it dawned on me that the wheel was against the backed-out nut and everything was ok.

I'm a real big guy. There's no way I could jerk my '55 Ford wheel off without cracking the plastic or bending the wheel. Yes, it was on THAT hard. Some guys get lucky, or they can use a flimsy puller. Wouldn't happen for me. - Dave

[Petrolhead]

Sorry to hijack this thread, just wanted to say that this thread is just one example of why the Squarebirds forum is so good: great friendly advice, even offers of sending stuff around the world to help a fellow T-bird enthusiast. Too cool.

[JohnG]

steering wheel puller info

I finally got to it.

The holes are 5/16", fine thread (24 teeth per inch). The bolts in my kit are about 3" long.

If for any reason you can't get such American bolts where you are, let me know and I can easily send you a pair.

I also took a picture of the entire assembly if you want it. The puller cost me $3 in the bargain bin at some auto parts store and has been a huge help.

John
58 Hardtop

[JohnG]

hi Anders

I have a kit and I have to take mine off in the next couple of days so I will get you the info. The kit has a number of bolts for different cars so I have to identify the ones for the TBird. I believe they were fine thread so I will get the thread pitch gauge out and get you accurate information.

John
58 Hardtop

[Anders]

That didnīt work Not sure if itīs stucked to hard, or if Iīm to weak, but the same result anyway...

Anyone know the "inch-numbers" for these 2 screws?

Anders,have you tried pulling the wheel by hand.I removed the center nut from mine and was able to pull the steering wheel off by hand.

[Anders]

All you need is a universal wheel puller.I bought one at my local parts store.I think it was $12.

Universal....
I live in Sweden, and Universal here is with millimeter...
What dimension are the screws that goes into the steering wheel?
That would help me quite a lot.

All you need is a universal wheel puller.I bought one at my local parts store.I think it was $12.

[tbrd60]

I got one at harbor freight.

[Anders]

Anyone who knows where i can buy a steering wheel remover tool that fits my steering wheel?