Steering Wheel Removal

I just got a postal column for my saginaw conversion. It's complete with the wheel on it. The wheel is cracked up and nasty, so I want to pull it off. How do I do this? I pulled many wheels off many vechicles in the past with pullers, but I can't even mount a puller on this style wheel. The center of the column coming up through the wheel has the horn mechanism on it, so i can't take a hammer to that. How do I get this thing off?

 

if the wheel is being replaced because it is cracked, get a big claw hammer and beat the plastic off until just the little steel collar and 3 wire spokes are showing, cut the spokes off with the torch and pull the steel hub off withh a normal gear puller. The plasic actually breaks off easily.

JB

 

Perfect. Thats exactly what I was thinking of doing, but I wanted to see what people had to say here before I started drilling away. Now that I know it works, I'll go at it this weekend. Thanks.

 

There are instructions on the CJ3B page on making a puller from wood. I did this and it works pretty well.

 

I use a bearing separator behind the wheel and a puller

 

Thanks 181jeep for your reply too. Your suggestion works for my postal wheel column removal, but for the stock jeep wheel removal (which is in very nice shape and I want to reuse on the postal column) I'll go with Boyinks write up

 

I have been using using the bearing separator method for 4 - 5 years now.

Even if I wasn't going to re-use the old wheel I still would use that method.

It is too easy - it takes longer to assemble the hardware than it does to remove the wheel once the claptrap is mounted.

I have removed perhaps 10-15 steering wheels using this method, and damaged only one steering wheel in the process and never damaged the steering tube.

Prior to that I always cut the tube to get it apart and had to buy a new tube and wheel.

 

The bearing separator works best. I've pulled lots of wheels w/ mine. He's right. Takes more time to set up than to actually pull the wheel.

 

I use the 3 P’s to pull steering wheels and other stubborn bolts.

1. Penetrating oil ( I like brand name S OK however WD 40 will work)

2. Pressure

3. Patience (24 hours)


Soak with penetrating oil. Spray the nut if not already removed and exposed threads so some will eventually work its way down through the rust inside the steering wheel hub onto the spline of the steering shaft. .

Apply pressure with your gear puller on the steering wheel.

And forget about it till the next morning. The next morning on your way to leave for work, give it another shot of penetrating oil.

When you get home, take a small ball pen hammer and tap some on the hub just enough to vibrate some of the rust loose inside the spine. Then take your wrench and give the gear puller about a 1/3 turn.

WARNING This can help you save teeth!!!

Be careful to not have your face in line with the trajectory. I have seen them come off with a pop and go into the air when they let loose.

I have used this trick on several old jeeps and tractors. Never had it fail yet.