Adventures of the Rusted nut!

[Beauford]

Here is the steering nut that rusted away but not completely. I have tried the stripped nut socket and nothing. As you can see my light rod is in there and doesnt want to budge as well.

[Synchro909]

It would be a little more work but to fix that properly, I would grind the top off it and replace the steering shaft, light rod and steering wheel. Looks like you should replace the wheel anyway. Once done, the steering box would be in good shape too.

[Beauford]

Sounds like a plan Synchro....Just when all was going well. LOL

[james hitchcock]

Hammer and chisel.

[Jacksonlll]

Cut the nut off and pull the wheel off. Yes, it will be hard to get it off, but there are ways.

[Beauford]

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Guess I could try my Dremel cut off disc...is that horn rod connected on anything else other than that pain in the butt clip I took off?

[Beauford]

I have a puller..damn nut!!!

[iverson]

I think the shaft it too far gone to save but I bet with a little heat with a torch and you could get the nut off with a vise grip

[Beauford]

I'll try it all....I have nothing to lose but a $80 shaft...these vendors should know me by a first name basis. Their gonna have a great Christmas this year!

[SSsssteamer]

Carefully split the steering wheel nut with a hammer and a chisel and them spin the nut's pieces off of the steering shaft. Other that the spider retained at the bottom of the horn rod, there is nothing to keep the horn rod from being pulled out of the top. A good soaking with a rust penetrate (Kroil?) will start the removal process. You can carefully drive your horn rod out from the bottom with a drift punch and hammer. Chances are that as the horn rods emerges from the top of the the steering shaft, that a longer round stock the diameter of the horn rod will be needed to drive the horn rod out of the top end. Been there, done that. I have also restored steering wheels in worse condition than the one you have in your photo. Often the original parts are less hassle to work with than reproduction parts.

[Beauford]

Thanks, SS!

[Tom Wesenberg]

If you can use a small bit to drill one side of the nut, then a hammer and chisel should split it easily. I can tell that steering wheel is well rusted to the shaft, so it will also be a bear to remove. I wonder if a tap and Vice Grip can pull the horn rod out?

[john charlton]

If the steering wheel is junk carefully remove enough nut to see where the woodruff key slot is . Using a fine cutting disc remove the wheel spokes close to the hub . Cut the hub in way of the slot when you hit the key the hub can be easily split enough to release the taper . If you do this right the shaft is not damaged but you will need a new key !!! . The weight is now off the nut and the remains of it will just unscrew with a little heat maybe .The horn rod might come out with the nut or wring off . This does the job with no damage to shaft or thread . Works for me .

John in windy Suffolk County England .

[Dodge]

Buy another car.

[Beauford]

Thanks, John!.....Dodge, at times I have thought of that but I like a challenge. I will bring this car to life.

[Kurt in NJ]

There can still be threads under there that can work, drilling a small hole in the remasins of the nut without touching the shaft, then using a sharp chisel

i have small carbide cutters for the dremel, like small milling cutters that can side cut, I use them on broke bolts and nuts, they do break easy, I usually get a few every year at Hershey

A normal chisel alone works good when you have acess from the side, but not as good from the end, from the end a cape chisel works better----or by drilling a hole the normal chisel is given a path to split the nut from the side

[nhusa]

When we got the T that had been in storage for 45 the radiator cap would not come off.
I tried all the tricks - penetrating oil, heat, force to the point I was concerned about twisting the neck etc without success.
Finally I used a small diamond wheel on my dremal and slowly worked my way to the tip of the threads on three sides. A good wack with a hammer and chisel and it came off.

[john charlton]

If you do manage to get the nut off first by the look of your picture that wheel will not pull off the taper ,it is on solid .Using a legged puller will just buckle the top of the shaft for sure (trust me). Cut the hub slot completely top to bottom lay the hub on a wood block insert a suitable chisel and a smart bop with a heavy hammer will loosen the taper and then get the bond broken between hub and nut . Wear safety glasses but i bet you know this !!!

John in blustery Suffolk County England .

[gypsycandle]

Hi Beauford, I don't know how far you have progressed with this problem but if the center of the hub will hold liquid you can mix 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water, pour it in there and let it sit for 3 days.. all the rust will disappear and you will aleast see what you are dealing with. I have done this with wrenches that were rusted shut, original spark plugs, tools, nuts and bolts that wouldn't come apart. the metal come back looking like the day it was made, no lie!! It may smell like an aged bottle of wine for a while but what have you got to loose. lol
Good luck ~~ Michael...

[Jacksonlll]

Before you cut up your wheel, try this.

https://youtu.be/er3gKmcWZJs