steering wheel removal.. is there a trick?

[bexterity]

hey all

is there a trick to removing the EK steering wheels?

have tried removing it but it just wont budge

[reidy]

Hi Bec, best bet is to use a steering wheel puller, this bolts into the two threaded holes in the steering wheel and then a central bolt is tightened onto the steering shaft (after removing the horn ring, contact plate, lock nut and nut) and presses the wheel off the shaft. If you go the way of using a hammer, damage to the shaft will occur and cracking of the steering wheel occurs. Steering wheel pullers are available from spare parts outlets and are not all that dear.
Regards Bill

[ek_mad]

Or the button??If its the button a bit of wd to losen it and it should pop off with a little help behind with a smallscrew driver.

[FB MAD]

Yep, like EK Mad said, a very small thin screwdriver will prise the horn button off.Be carefull though as the edge of the button can be brittle so prise the screwdriver in gently and do it from the bottom area of the button so if it does chip the edge a little it won't be as noticeable at the bottom.

And Reidy's suggestion of a steering wheel puller is the right way to get it off.Use the puller if you can because it will help stop the wheel from cracking by using the alternative method I'm about to describe below.

If you can't get a puller then try and buy/obtain a copper headed hammer/mallet or a brass drift ( piece of solid brass rod ) about 6 inches long.Unscrew the nut holding the wheel on to the shaft but don't unscrew it completely, leave it still on the thread so it is level with the end of the shaft.

Get someone to pull on the steering wheel whilst the other person hits the end of the shaft/nut ( not too hard if possible ) till the wheel releases off the shaft spline.Then just undo the nut from the shaft and pull the wheel off.

The reason you leave the nut on is so when the person is pulling on the wheel it doesn't let go all of a sudden and hit you in the nose and break your nose like I did when I was an apprentice .It will still let go all of a sudden most times but the nut keeps it from modifying the honker.

Copper headed hammer/mallet or brass/copper drift is used because these metals are softer than steel and when you hit the end of the steering shaft with them then the thread on the shaft doesn't get damaged ( most times ).

Sounds difficult but it's not really.It's only difficult to describe in words how to do it without using pictures.

Hope that helps, and cover your nose ,

Terry.

P.S. Before you take the wheel off also mark with say, a black texta, the steering wheel and the end of the shaft so that when you replace the wheel then it goes back on in the same position on the spline as it was before.Otherwise if the wheel goes back on in the wrong position the steering wheel will be positioned wrong when you are driveing straight ahead.And that is a pain in the bum when that happens!!

[reidy]

Like i suggested, better to get a puller unless you know what you are doing, otherwise you could be up for a steering wheel repair.
Bill

[bexterity]

haha nice story

thanks all.. i do know how to remove the horn button

the steering wheel itself is jammed on there pretty hard.... so was just checking there wasnt some little thing i was missing doing

my brother broke his nose pulling the wheel of my gemini

i'll try and get one of those thingamajig tools tomorrow!

[Trev]

By the time you pay for a brass hammer and rod you would have a puller for the same money, and is always handy to have , although I do like the gentle persuasion of a bloody big hammer , Trev .

[minifb]

My steering wheel puller cost $12.00 best money ive spent for a long time.(except for beer) Cheers Mark

[bexterity]

yeh i bought one also $12.... one turn and it was off