Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Stubborn wheel doesn't want to come off.
I tried a 2 arm puller yoke tied to 2 spokes w/rope and all it did was start to break up the old, previously patched wheel.
I tried drilling a couple of holes to tap out for puller bolts, but all I found was thin metal and hard rubber.
Does anyone know the size of the hub so I can drill in solid metal, see attached pic.
Thanks, Ken

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

I used a bit of heat and penetrating oil before trying the rope thing.
It sat for about a week before I pulled on it.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

I am no expert but in the picture you posted it sure looks like the retaining nut is still on.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Id leave the nut on to avoid demolishing the threaded end of the shaft

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

I could buy that but then the question becomes is the nut loose?

Charlie Stephens

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

It's still on.

It's loose, just flush w/the end of the threads to protect the shaft.
There's about .025"-.030" space between the nut and the hub.
I've been applying penetrating oil (Kroil) for the last 3 or 4 days.
I'm leery of putting heat on it due to the hard rubber.
Would like to drill and tap the hub ifn I can figure out exactly where to drill, w/out making it look like swiss cheese.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Removed the steering box, shaft and wheel.
I lossened up the nut, suspended the wheel with two pieces of metal off the ground so that the full weight of the shaft and steering box were on the wheel.
A little oil soaking around the spline, and gave it a good whack with a rawhide mallet
POP, she was loose.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

I didn’t say to turn it cherry red just a bit of heat to warm it up a bit.
I did it twice - one time I heated the shaft and let it cool
Then the hub.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

There is a great how to on Youtube that worked for me. Just a common small wheel puller and nylon rope. popped right off. google Removing Model A ford steering wheel.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

What ever you do don't hit that nut with a steel hammer to shock the shaft loose. Tried that and it came off, threads and all.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

That's the first way I tried, using a brass drift and a 3 lb hammer, no go.

Thanks, I'll try that.

Tried that, that's when the wheel started to break apart as I posted in my original post.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

SEARCH for my sure fire steering wheel removal method.
Bill W.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

If your column is out of your car, I used Bill’s method altered for out of the car! I needed to remove a steering wheel from a rusty crusty column, placed the column in a bench vice and puled back on one side of the wheel and pushed on the other side of the wheel working back and forth like what Bill has said. Off it popped and I was the only Big Hammer needed.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Thanks BH, I'll try that.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

If the wheel is already junk,try an air hammer on the hub,it worked for me.

https://i.imgur.com/6TZ9BMO.jpg

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Bill's method is hard to find - even this link is a repost. (Bill Too Old)

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showp...4&postcount=11

Done it this way myself 1ce or 2ce but those cars weren't 90 yrs old.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Tried an air hammer when the column was hanging by the wheel, no go.

Gonna try BH's method (variation of Bill W's) when I get a chance to get back at it.

Les A's book says to not overtighten the nut, I'm assuming that some PO didn't read that. The nut was very tight, took a burp gun to loosen it.
It's not rusted, just stuck tight.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Here's the link to Bill's original post of 9/10/2011: It is still there, you just have to look for it!

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...steering+wheel

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

I tried all that stuff nothing worked untill I went down the drill and tap route, even then parts of the puller we're bending.

Re: Trying to remove the steering wheel from a '31
 

Snyders make a nice puller. Does 28 and 30s. Kind of expensive for 1 time use. I just used it and no damage to wheel.

John