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repairing a steering wheel

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Bruce Bowker

Bruce Bowker

Obi Wan
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What is the material used in the "plastic" steering wheels of the 1960's? Has anyone every filled in major cracks etc and if so how is it buffed out to blend?

Thanks

Bruce
 
Hey Bruce -

I repaired quite a few cracks/gaps in my TR3 wheel with bondo. Just sanded it even with the plastic, primed it, and repainted the whole wheel black. Worked great, going on four years now!

Mickey
 
Mickey - thanks.
I might give that a try. I have a really bad Mini wheel I acguired with a good steering column. Thought I might experiment and if I fail no big loss.

What paint did you use?

Bruce
 
Don't remember - probably Krylon. Be sure to prime the whole wheel first. Like I said, mine's holding up surprisingly well. Like you, I thought "Nothing ventured, nothing gained." And it sure beats trying to find a decent one - at any price.
 
Thanks again

Bruce
 
You're welcome - let us know how it comes out.

Mickey
 
POR-15 makes a kit, and I have seen very nice work done with it. I can be found here... https://www.por15.com/product.asp?productid=332

[ QUOTE ]
What is the material used in the "plastic" steering wheels of the 1960's? Has anyone every filled in major cracks etc and if so how is it buffed out to blend?
Bruce

[/ QUOTE ]
 
My Healey steering wheel was in pretty bad shape so I thought I'd experiment with it before buying a new one. When I removed the leather cover there were chunks of plastic loose and you could see down to the metal core of the wheel. First I sanded and then used West System Epoxy (found at boat supply stores). The first coat was without fillers, just straight epoxy, so it would flow into the cracks and get to the core. Then I mixed a batch with microballoon filler (also sold by West Systems) which gives the epoxy some body. You can mix more or less microballoons to the epoxy to get just the right consistancy. I also added some black epoxy paste for color. It took a few coats with sanding and shaping in between to get the wheel back to the original shape. I then put a thin layer of straight epoxy with the black color additive for the final gloss coat. Three years later the wheel still looks brand new.

Cheers,
John
 
Bruce -- I filled the cracks in mine with JB Weld (epoxy), sanded smooth and painted using SEM spray paint for plastic.

Krylon would probably work too but you might want to use a plastic prep (e.g. Bulldog) to get better adhesion.
 
Wow - great suggestions from everyone. I will play around with all of these and see what is easiest for me.

Thanks all.

Bruce
 
Bruce, when you get all the cracks filled, lace on a new leather cover, and no one will ever know. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Jeff
 
Aloha Bruce,

Eastwood has a kit to repair steering wheels and also a booklet on how to do it. It includes a two part epoxy that is stronger than bondo. It is probably comparable to the POR-15 and JB Weld. I have used bondo in the past and it is OK if you are not repairing the wheel near the spokes. I found the bondo would crack or break out in that location. The harder/stronger epoxy can handle the stress. After repainting the steering wheel, I covered it with a leather cover. Good luck.

Safety Fast,
Dave
 
[ QUOTE ]
After repainting the steering wheel, I covered it with a leather cover.

[/ QUOTE ]
Bruce, I told you so !!
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

Jeff
 
Bruce -

I did what everybody mentioned here - My 67 Sprite wheel had broken where the spokes joined the outer ring and was held together with electrical tape - I ground the Bakelite away from the outer ring, mig welded the spokes to the ring , built the wheel up with Bondo, shaped, painted, and covered with a leather steering wheel cover - Looks fine, feels great - No Sweat!

Bob M
 
Some great ideas and things to try.

Since I want to sell it on eBay at an exhorbitant price and claim it is all original, VERY RARE, WOW LOOK, and in perfect condition, I better cover it in leather first.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/lol.gif

Thanks all.

Bruce
 
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