Steering Wheel modification for a BN7

[Mert]

The 15" diameter steering wheel on my BN7 (1960) is becoming too incumbering for me to fit in the seat. (Yea, I know lose some weight! But being senior Healey driver, that ain't an option). I am looking for a 13" or 14" diameter wheel. My steering column is the adjustable style. There are 6 mounting screws. The original wheel is gone. The present wheel is a Moss (came with car). The key would be a wheel with a center hub opening sufficient for the horn / trafficator module to fit. Any leads/recommendations would be helpful...

 

[HealeyRick]

Tim Moran ("Cottontop" on this forum) reduced his stock wheel from 15" down to 14". You can see it here: https://modifiedhealeys.org/Photos/1Moran/FullStoryAll1.html Maybe you could shoot him a PM if you're interested in how it was done. I'm sure Mike Lempert could build you one of his beautiful wheels in any size you want: https://www.pbase.com/mdlempert/wheels

 

[drambuie]

Moss sells both wood and leather Moto- Lita steering wheels in the 14 inch size at $369 price range. Plus the cost of the hub adapter which you have to machine to fit your original hub at $165... Too pricey if you ask me! I would defiantly go with HealeyRicks suggestion.

 

[maxwedge5281]

in order to keep my trafficator and the stock healey appearing steering wheel, i did as healey rick stated. i reduced mine to probably 13 inches. i cut the spokes off at the plastic housing of the outer edge of the wheel. i bent one half inch steel round bar. drilled holed for the spokes and slipped the resulting circle over the spokes. welded them on the outside of the circle. covered the wheel area in one half inch id rubber hycraulic hose and wrapped with a leather cover. looked nice for the day and time...1968-69 and served my purposes and did not cost much. but recently i bought the wheel that moss sells along with a new trafficator...repro.. and adaptor and for 800 or 900 dollars i had a smaller wheel and it looks good in my new to me bj7.... im not to sure that i did not like my homemade one better and it is still in the 1959 bn6...owned by someone else... 45 years later!!!

 

[DerekJ]

Drambuie. There is no need to machine anything if you buy the Moto Lita wheel and its correct hub adaptor. 15 inch is already 1 inch less than original. 14 inch is starting to get a little small.

 

[maxwedge5281]

i believe that is the wheel that i bought and with the correct adaptor from moss no machining is necessary. it is 14 inches in diameter!

 

[terp83]

Mert-

In the event that you find a smaller diameter steering wheel for your BN7, I would be potentially interested in purchasing the 15" diameter Moss steering wheel (assuming that it is wood-rimmed) for my BT7. Earlier this year, I purchased a Bluemel adaptor hub with a 3 1/2" diameter center lip and six (6) mounting holes each 2 inches apart. Like you, I qualify for senior driver status.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[Randy Forbes]

My BN6 has had a Moto-Lita since before I bought it in 1978, with about a 14" diameter and a very slight dish (<2" at most). The splines in the hub were getting a little sloppy and I replaced the hub a few months back. For my non-adjustable column/trafficator, I had to use a carbide burr on a die-grinder to make a little clearance for the actuating blade. It was no big deal, taking only a few minutes.


So to answer your original question; yes, you can get a Moto-Lita wheel that suits you, and still be able to keep the original horn/turn signal traficator.

 

[Mert]

Well, I measured the wheel today, and it is 16". Sorry.. I found a seller on the big auction internet that has various steering wheels for a wide variety of cars. I am working with him on getting a 14" wheel.

 

[Mert]

#251308974203 Here is the auction item number to work with. Just see what else is available. Might be a good source for some one else...

 

[drambuie]

Drambuie. There is no need to machine anything if you buy the Moto Lita wheel and its correct hub adaptor. 15 inch is already 1 inch less than original. 14 inch is starting to get a little small.

The original poster was looking for a 13 or 14 inch steering wheel, That is why I pointed out the 14 inch Moto-Lita at Moss...I guess the hub for the non adjustable moss sells needs a little modification to accept the original control head. The adjustable hub adapter they sell needs no machining as you point out.

I think if a person is handy, they could adapt many steering wheel styles to a Healey. However, most look for a straight forward approach. I may take my own Original steering wheel off my BJ8 to restore it over the winter. I am looking at different resins to fill and smooth out the cracks before I paint it.

 

[BoyRacer]

Mert,
The steering columns on all big Healeys are adjustable. Did you first check to make sure the steering column clamp (located under the dash) is in the highest position?
BTW, if one moves that clamp to change the steering column height, one also needs to first slacken the three steering box mounting bolts to allow the box to pivot, otherwise you will just be bending the steering column tube and steering shaft...thereby creating a bind.

 

[drambuie]

Mert,
The steering columns on all big Healeys are adjustable. Did you first check to make sure the steering column clamp (located under the dash) is in the highest position?
BTW, if one moves that clamp to change the steering column height, one also needs to first slacken the three steering box mounting bolts to allow the box to pivot, otherwise you will just be bending the steering column tube and steering shaft...thereby creating a bind.

According to Anders Ditev Clausager "restorer guide " most BN4s and 3000s came with adjustable steering columns.However, from chassis number 68960 BN6s and all subsequent models came with fixed steering columns. adjustable steering columns where listed as option at that point. In 1961 some big Healeys exported to Germany and Sweden had Locking steering columns incorporated with the ignition key.

 

[Randy Forbes]

According to Anders Ditev Clausager "restorer guide " most BN4s and 3000s came with adjustable steering columns.However, from chassis number 68960 BN6s and all subsequent models came with fixed steering columns. adjustable steering columns where listed as option at that point. In 1961 some big Healeys exported to Germany and Sweden had Locking steering columns incorporated with the ignition key.

No, Richard is talking about adjustable for height, not length. I wasn't follow him at first either, but yes, he's right (don't tell him I said that...).

I must have a picture of that somewhere...

 

[Randy Forbes]

Coincidentally, it's the picture that I used to show someone else the area of the non-sdjustable column hub that needed to be ground out to fit the trafficator. Anyway, the aluminum clamp that supports the column can be suspended from one (1) of three (3) pairs of holes in the column support bracket.

 

[healeyblue]

I'll piggy back on randys photo showing the aluminum (aluminium) clamp with the bolt and the ever important steering column brace (which I almost forgot to put back on on the longbridge build). My photo also shows the German delivery steering column lock mentioned earlier.
Jim