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Hi all. I was just wondering which is the correct position of the steering wheel on an M38A1 (and maybe others too...) when the wheels point straight ahead.
Would it be with the center spoke pointing upwards (as in the Mercedes badge) or downwards? Considering originality and comfort
In the different TMs there are many positions.
Thanks in advance

I mounted my wheel with the single post pointing down at the 6:00 o'clock position. Y shaped as you look at wheel. FYI

Factory photos will offer the strongest evidence. However even that is not the absolute positive answer.

In the delivery lot photos below they seem to support one spoke straight down but that depends on how the driver left the wheel pointing when he climbed out of the jeep.







The majority of wheel positions seem to support a center spoke down but this is a weak assumption.

In the photo below we find the strongest evidence sind the front tires are trapped in a straight ahead position.



I would not be too concerned because untill a written factory directive for the assembly line to install the wheel a certain way surfaces all the above is arbitray evidence and you would not loose any points at judging for spoke alignmemnt. I would position the wheel spokes for my favorite gripping position IE high grip set center spoke up and low grip cent center spoke down.

Thanks for the info!!!
And thank you Wes for posting those great photos

Yeh, I agree, the centre spoke points down. I was always taught from when I first started in the smash repair business on a three spoke wheel one points straight down, & one is at 10 o'clock & the other at 2 o'clock. The driver grips the wheel above the top two spokes, This gives the driver better leverage when turning because his hands are against the spokes & cannot slip around the wheel. (Power steering was rare in Aus when I started, so this went for most vechicles!)
Cheers Ray

Ray, the above sounds good to me
And absolutely logical

Not to throw a wrench in the works here, but the -8014 (para 229 b (2))of 1955 says the spoke is to be installed "straightforward".

Nice catch Dave. I checked the M38's TM 9-8012 Par 239 c (8) and TM 9-804 Par 191 b and the M38A1 TM 9-804A par 206 b and they says single spoke forward as well.