Steering Wheel Repair

[Jerry]

Group,

I am working on a car that I am trying to keep original. The steering wheel has lost all the plastic; it is just wire at this point.

Do you have instructions for restoring this or a steering wheel sitting in your garage you want to get rid of?

Jerry

 

[EricG]

Re: Steering wheel

I have a really nice original non adjustable 100-6 or 3000 wheel I would sell for $250+shipping. It has no cracks and a glossy finish. Eric

 

[Jerry]

Re: Steering wheel

I should have said, the BJ8 needs an adjustable steering wheel.

 

[Keoke]

Re: Steering wheel

Try Healey Surgeons , Amazon and Ebay ??

 

[Madflyer]

Re: Steering wheel

Jerry are you in the UBCC I am in RBCC Reno. I will put out to the club about a wheel we have some AH members Madflyer

 

[Jerry]

Re: Steering wheel

Yes, I am part of UBSCC. And I am sure if you came to the car show in the last 20 years, you would recognize me. I give out all the trophies!
Jerry

 

[Madflyer]

Re: Steering wheel

Yes the RBCC has been to many of the Dixon shows I hope there will be again one day. Madflyer

 

[Gbedford]

Re: Steering wheel

I recently refinished my steering wheel. It took some time and patience. I used the kit and instructions from Eastwood. It is not perfect, but I am extremely pleased. The included instructions are not clear and a bit out of date. Should anyone decide to go this route, let me know and I will post my more extensive tips. See my before, during, and after photos posted here.

 

[John Turney]

Re: Steering wheel

Jerry,

I have an original wheel that is in need of restoration, but sounds like it's in better shape than the one you have.



Let me know if you want it.

 

[pkmh]

Re: Steering wheel

GBedford, I did something similar to what you did. I used a black colored, two part epoxy milliput with piano wire composite. I also included a record sketch as well for better explanation and viewing of the piano wire concept here. I did this restoration back in 2016 and it has held up pretty well. Some further fine grinding could be done, but all I have done up to now is to use a Sharpie (only in the milliput applied areas) from time to time, to color match the right blackness to the surrounding existing finish. All in all, I am pleased with this approach. (PS.- I decided to include a last photo showing the use of a heat gun (used with care), a technique to restore "flatness" or that is to say, eliminate any 'raised' plastic areas as well).

 

[Deleted member 26968]

I know it's a long way away but we have a steering wheel restorer here in New Zealand.

I am sure he will work for international clients.

rimblowrestorations@xtra.co.nz

Cheers

Barry

 

[Jerry]

Thanks for all the instructions. I had someone call and a used unit is on the way. It needs a little care like you have done above, but in better shape than the one that came with the car. I should post a picture of the wire under the outer ring. I am not sure how all of the plastic is gone.
I did buy parts from New Zealand for my Morris 8. The shipping was as much as the parts! But we did have a great vacation seeing both islands of New Zealand a little over a year ago. I would go back anytime (except for the long flight to get there).
Jerry

 

[PHulst]

Anyone have a picture of a wheel, or parts of a wheel, with no plastic on it?

With old solid axle Corvettes the cracks usually mean that the underlying weld has broken, and needs to be repaired if the plastic repair is going to hold.
I'm just wondering if the Healey wheels have welds, or how the spokes are held to the outer ring.

 

[Rob Glasgow]

This discussion reminds me of when I removed the leather steering wheel cover years ago, all the plastic on the rim had turned to small crumbles. Replaced it with a Moto Lita wood rim that I had lusted after since before I owned the car.

 

[BigGreen]

Anyone have a picture of a wheel, or parts of a wheel, with no plastic on it?

https://www.yesteryearsteeringwheels.com.au/2015/03/austin-healey-1950s/

 

[PHulst]

Thanks. Similar design.

So, a caveat to home steering wheel repairers - if you don't fix the broken weld or the rust, it's just going to crack again.

A good friend of mine is "the" restorer for old Corvette wheels, and I've had a lot of discussions with him regarding repair.

 

[Jerry]

What I have to start with
Jerry

 

[Daniel Kaminsky]

Has anyone tried J-B Weld with perhaps some added lampblack for wheel repair?

 

[Jerry]

Update on the UBSCC Dixon car show: We have moved the date to September 19th. Mark your calendars and registration will open in June. By that time we should have most people vaccinated and perhaps beat down this pandemic. IF I am really industrious, the Healey I am working on may be there. If not, perhaps I will bring the Morris 8. Not many people have seen a Morris 8 from 1936.
Jerry
Chairman of the show

UBSCC - The United British Sports Car Club

 

[GregW]

I modified my original wheel into wood.