How to remove steering wheel without destroying it?

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Mon Mar 05, 2018 10:42 am

Hi Wes,

Yup.......understood. I just got done cranking her down a bit........nothing has budged.........but it's only been one night. Gave the top of the splined insert in the wheel a good tapping all around with a small drift. She'll let go........when she's good and ready.

regards,
bob

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Thu Mar 15, 2018 12:49 pm

Hi Guys,

Update time.

Well, she's still not ready to play ball. I've had the puller on there for what, 2 weeks now, and she's still holding onto that steering wheel tightly. A couple of times I released the puller, re-applied the Freeze Off very liberally, and waited a few hours for any wicking to occur. Then put the puller back on, tightened the s&*t out of it, and let it sit. After work each day I'd go out and beat on the bearing puller side with a hammer all around the steering column shaft, then put a wrench on a wrench for more leverage and crank her down again. At this point I think I'm going to switch from Freeze-Off to heat. If the weather holds this weekend I'll do a little thermal cycling on those splines and see if that won't break her free. I can now see why the previous owner didn't (couldn't) pull the steering wheel when he painted the jeep. I'll report back again if I make any progress.

regards,
bob

wilfreeman · Post by **wilfreeman** » Thu Mar 22, 2018 3:47 pm

Man, that sucks! Hopefully the heat will work for you. That's what did it for me - penetrant, heat, puller and tapping.

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Fri Mar 23, 2018 8:05 pm

Hi Matt,

Yeah, she's putting up a good fight. I didn't mess with it this week as we had some snow on Tuesday into Wednesday and it's been a bit cold. I should get some time to mess with it this weekend. If heat doesn't work I'll have to go to plan B. It would help if I actually had a plan B..........but we'll cross that bridge when we get there.

I'll be back,
bob

Xamon · Post by **Xamon** » Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:11 am

When I finally got my wheel off I rigged up a plate on the back that I could attach Bertha to. She always wins. Probably was excessive using a hub puller but it is off.

Oh yeah it wasn't a plate it was the chunked ring gear from my rear axle

w30bob · Post by **w30bob** » Tue Mar 27, 2018 7:27 am

Well..............maybe I need a Bertha! Been over a month now and this wheel is still kicking my bass. Didn't have time to get to it this weekend, but had to take the puller off, as it was making the cracks in the wheel worse. To be continued...........

regards,
bob

m3a1 · Post by **m3a1** » Tue Apr 17, 2018 1:52 pm

Did you ever get it off? See my most recent restoration post - A father and son M38.