Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Up-date

[MikeAH100M]

Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Found a vintage Derrington wheel for my 100M in the UK. I installed it with the spokes in an inverted "Y" orientation so that the spokes do not block the Tach and Speedo. However, when I was looking through different resources (Piggot, Clausager, Moment and Anderson). I found pictures of 100's (and 3000's) with wood and banjo wheels with the spokes oriented in both inverted and non-inverted Y orientation with wheels straight ahead. Search of the archives showed a similar question in 2009 that was not answered. Not blocking the gauges seems logical but was wondering if anyone knows how they came from the factory or if any other logic applies?

(You can tell that is winter in Pennsylvania USA and I'm doing anything to keep my mind occupied on AH stuff while the cars are hibernating!)

 

[bob hughes]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

As I understand from a restorer friend they should be inverted 'Y' but people change them to (Y) for the reasons you mention.




Bob

 

[HealeyRick]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

NOJ 393:

 

[steveg]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

In Clausager there are a dozen or more pictures of stock wheels in the inverted "Y" position and one or two with the opposite, which could easily have been left that way as the car was pulled in for the photo.

Anderson-Moment, page 50, caption in upper left: "...Shown is the 17-inch nonadjustable wheel, properly mounted with one spoke up when the wheel is centered. This prevented the spokes from obscuring the gauges when driving."

It stands to reason the 120 degree-spoked accessory wheels should be mounted the same way.

 

[dougie]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

I have the steering wheel in the non-Y position on my 100-6 MM racer. I find when you've in the heat of battle at speed, it's the only position that allows you to clearly check the vitals while advancing your position.

 

[DerekJ]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

The only way is up! The inverted Y as it is being referred to. After all, that is the way they came from the factory.

 

[MikeAH100M]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Thanks all for the info and pictures. Inverted Y it is. (I also like Dougie's fire extinguisher placement so will copy that.)

 

[Andy65]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Not to mention, the inverted Y lets you wrap your fingers firmly around the wheel in a wider range of locations without hitting a spoke. I think that is the real reason.

 

[Keoke]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Not to mention, the inverted Y lets you wrap your fingers firmly around the wheel in a wider range of locations without hitting a spoke. I think that is the real reason.

HEY !
Now we have two good reasons for using the non "Y" position.

 

[RAC68]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Hi All,

I appreciate that my steering wheel is not one of the more popular or exotic, however, I chose and totally refurbished it because of its non-Y straight spokes and my ability to mount it with the vertical spoke down. In this position, as you can see, I can see the dash gauges most of the time without too much difficulty. Although I have no idea where this wheel came from as it was acquired from a friend a number of years ago and he purchased it with a pile of random Healey parts enveloped in 2 halves of a totally rusted out 100/6 half sunk in a muddy field.



Happy Holidays,
Ray (64BJ8P1)

 

[Keoke]

Re: Steering Wheel Orientation - 2009 Update

Well:
It realy looks neat and meets both user criteria s.

Maybe we should add an additional position " T "