Steering Wheel Removal

Removed the Steering Wheel today from my 66 CJ5, V6. I used a steering wheel puller I purchased at Harbor Freight for about $40. It worked quickly and easily without damaging the wheel. I read many of the threads on the difficulties of removing the steering wheel and thought members would be interested in this effective option. Now I am going to fill the cracks in the wheel with JB Weld and cover with fresh paint and clear coat.

 

It took me three days with a puller, heat, and magic fluid to get the wheel off my '47. I am repairing with black epoxy , filing it to shape like body filler, then I'll coat the wheel in Clear Penetrating Epoxy Sealer (CPES) with black tint. Coming along nicely.

 

Yep, hard top jeep interiors are not as subject to weather like open jeeps. Some guys have tried all sorts of ideas including split bearing pullers and have ended up destroying the wheel and/or shaft. YMMV.

 

I have restored steering wheels before with epoxy to fill the cracks then sprayed with black bulldog adhesion promoter followed by several coats of clear lacquer. I did one off a tractor that was so sun weathered it was deteriorated and grey and gritty crumbley. I hit it with a homeowners plumbing torch to melt the surface back to smooth and black, then the bulldog and lacquer, that was several years ago and it still looks new.

 

Years later, This post just saved my butt hahaha.

 

FYI these work very well.
Heavy Duty Steering Wheel Puller Fits 41-86 Jeep & Willys | Kaiser Willys

 

Awesome! I used the harbor freight one after trying 2 different ones from Oreillys AND the Jack and tow straps method.

the HF puller finally worked

 

Whatever tool you use, you need to be careful. I used a bearing splitter on mine:


And I broke the back of the wheel:


I think it's because it canted slightly and was pushing against the column tube. Since it's where the turn signal wheel runs, I JB welded it back together and sanded it smooth:


It's held up like that for a couple years now.

 

Yep. I destroyed mine with the first 3 choices of tools. Even was trying to be careful by taping everything off but the ol' plastic just couldnt take it. All good though, I was gonna get a new wheel eventually anyway.