35 Steering Wheel Will Not Come Off

[Coupe35]

In my 35 coupe, I have a reproduction drake steering wheel that will not come off. I've tried hitiing on the bottom with a rubber hammer but it will not shake loose. I know the idea way is to drill and tap 2 holes and pull it but the drake wheel does not have enough material to drill into. It is mostly hollow. Any ideas.

[the man]

warm it up with a blowdrier.

[Old Redneck]

aatry a little PB Blaster that work for me.

[oldbugger]

Do all of the above, if it still is stuck then try to get your knees behind the wheel and try to push up. with the nut on the shaft flush with the end give the shaft a good rap with a hammer using a brass punch. The wheel will pop up to the nut if you are lucky. Good luck

[keith oh]

Heat it with a heat gun until you can just barely stand to touch it. A hair drier will not get it hot enough. While having helper pull up on the wheel place one ball peen hammer on the loosened nut and hit it sharply with another hammer. Wear goggles.

[JM 35 Sedan]

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I made a puller that works very well. I have removed some wheels that were really locked tight to there taper. No drilled holes required. Don't see your location in your avatar. If you live close to me you could borrow it.

I do not recommend hitting the top of the steering column shaft with anything, either with or without the nut in place. Bearings and/or gears could be damaged in the steering box.

[Karl Wolf]

OR the threaded portion could (for me) break off, with a dead staight on hit... Karl


See if you can find a picture of a K R Wilson wheel puller... It cradles the bottom of the center hub, exerts force on the plastic and does it so it doesn't break the hub...

[296 V8]

Originally Posted by oldbugger

Do all of the above, if it still is stuck then try to get your knees behind the wheel and try to push up. with the nut on the shaft flush with the end give the shaft a good rap with a hammer using a brass punch. The wheel will pop up to the nut if you are lucky. Good luck

^^^^Right there is all you need to know and do^^^^^

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by Karl Wolf

OR the threaded portion could (for me) break off, with a dead staight on hit... Karl

See if you can find a picture of a K R Wilson wheel puller... It cradles the bottom of the center hub, exerts force on the plastic and does it so it doesn't break the hub...

Right on Karl!
After I messed up a nice '35 steering wheel trying some of the wrong methods of removal (many of those methods mentioned above in other posts) I made a steering wheel puller that cradles the bottom of the center hub and pushes down against the nut which has been threaded flush with the top threads on the shaft. It has pulled some wheels that probably would never have come off by any of the other suggested methods. I didn't know anything about the KR Wilson puller at the time I made mine. Here are some pics. Good luck!!

[Old Redneck]

What nice pictures thank you. That sure would sell. Aw you know a steering wheel can be a bi#*. I found a steering wheel puller at a swap meet years ago and love it. THanks again for the pictures.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Post your location...surely there's a Fordbarn person near you with an early type puller or a puller constructed for this.
Before I found a good puller for the early wheels, I successfully popped all that I tried by drilling and tapping them for a modern two-bolt type puller as used on 1940-up Ford wheels. I drilled a somewhat undersize pilot for the normal 5/16 pulling bolts in order to get the deepest possible threads in the rubber as well as the rather thin metal core. Very quick and easy, but be careful and use a drill stop so you do not drill out the backside of the wheel.

[Coupe35]

Thanks everyone for your help. I got the wheel off. I took one of you guys advice and with my knees pushing against the back of the wheel, tap the nut with a hammer and it poped off. thanks again.