Topic: 1936 steering wheel removal


dmayhew    -- 06-13-2014 @ 6:01 AM
  I want to remove my standard, not Banjo, steering wheel from my 36 Sedan to restore it but I don't want to start prying and pounding before I know a bit more of what I'm doing. Can anyone give me a little guidance. Thanks. (new member).As an after thought I should mention I haven't even been able to remove the light switch or horn button yet.

This message was edited by dmayhew on 6-13-14 @ 8:08 AM


ken ct.    -- 06-13-2014 @ 7:21 AM
  Mine comes right off with a pull on it,try it,it might surprise you. ken ct.


supereal    -- 06-13-2014 @ 7:21 AM
  The best, snd safest, way to get the steering wheel off the shaft is use a puller designed for the job. There are two types. If you have threaded holes on either side of the shaft, and the type with fingers that fit under the wheel hub. Both have a screw that bears on the end of the shaft. Be careful with the threads on the hollow shaft. It is easy to damage them. With any puller, leave the nut on the shaft after loosening it. This will reduce the possibility of swedging the shaft, making reinstallation of the nut difficult. Steering wheels are made of a steel core with hard rubber molded around it. Prying or pounding is very likely to open cracks in the rubber. Some wheels come off with little effort, while others that have never been removed are firmly attached to the shaft.


CharlieStephens    -- 06-13-2014 @ 8:48 AM
  Ken,

His last sentence ended with "...I haven't even been able to remove the light switch or horn button yet". I think it is important to mention that you were talking about the wheel and not the horn button. As you know and we should warn him the horn button is attached to a rod that extends through the steering shaft through the steering box and comes out at the end. He needs to remove the electrical switch at the bottom (it is held on by a wire bale) and push up on the spring loaded piece that extends into the actual switch to move it. A second person needs to hold the horn button from the top to keep it from moving up. Some people have been successful using a small piece of wood pressing on the horn button and held by the rim of the steering wheel. Once the spring is compressed he should be able to see a "U" clip around the shaft. Once the clip is removed (don't drop it, they are easy to loose) the rod (including the horn button) will be free to be removed from the steering shaft. Next the fun part, you cannot bend the rod or it will bind when reinstalled. It is an easy job on a roadster or phaeton but a problem with closed cars unless you have the roof off. Unbolting the steering box from the frame might give a little more working room. I will leave it to others for more suggestions.

Charlie Stephens

This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 6-13-14 @ 7:58 PM


JM    -- 06-14-2014 @ 7:06 AM
  Charlie, I believe the last part of the original post was added after Ken made his post. I know it was not there the first time I read this.

As Charlie mentioned, be careful removing that horn rod. If it gets bent and reinstalled bent, the lights could come on when you turn the steering wheel. Some of these steering wheelswill come right off with little or no resistance while many are really on tight and require a puller. I made a puller that comes up under the center hub and screws down on top the the steering shaft. I do exactly what Super said to do to protect the threaded end of the shaft. I had one wheel that was so tight that when it finally popped lloose, the wheel and puller must have jumped about two feet. Patience and care are your friends when removing these wheels.

John


CharlieStephens    -- 06-14-2014 @ 8:45 AM
  Sounds like I owe Ken an apology to even think that he made a mistake. I knows he his stuff and just assumed he read the post quickly and focused in on the wheel itself, sorry Ken.

Charlie Stephens


supereal    -- 06-14-2014 @ 12:04 PM
  I didn't see it on the original post either, Charlie. It now shows an "edit". I assumed he had already gotten down to the wheel, too. John's caution about the horn tube is important. To my knowledge, they are not being reproduced. On a closed car, the steering box usually has to be unbolted, along with the steering tube dash bracket, to get the tube all the way up and out. I did one in a Model A coupe, and ended up removing the rear window. For someone who hasn't removed the switch at the bottom, it can produce some other challenging work to get it back on in the correct position.


CharlieStephens    -- 06-14-2014 @ 12:30 PM
  You might try to find an original steering wheel puller to rent. Maybe a local club. Be advised they are not the current style that has two bolts that go into taped holes in the steering wheel. The correct one goes under the wheel and pulls up as you tighten it. They used to be available in the V8 times and may still be. You might want to drill and tap the steering wheel so you can use a regular puller in the future.

Charlie Stephens


dmayhew    -- 06-15-2014 @ 2:33 PM
  Thanks all of you for your suggestions and guidance, I think I am going to start to tackle this problem tomorrow and I find your help invaluable, thanks again....Dan (dmayhew)


JM    -- 06-16-2014 @ 4:15 AM
  .....

This message was edited by JM on 6-16-14 @ 4:17 AM


ken ct.    -- 06-16-2014 @ 5:03 AM
  No apologies necessary Charlie,thanks for adding what you did,I assumed he had the bottom part off already. I think I got mine out through the roll down back window of my 5 w/ coupe. It was a long time ago and the memory is fadeing.Consequance of old age. lol ken ct.Also thanks John,see you guys at Getty.


VT/JeffH    -- 06-20-2014 @ 7:42 PM
  Dan, Any update?

If you have to drop the steering box you'll have a fun time getting the rivets out. When I did it I ground them down as far as possible, then drilled a hole in the center, then used a punch in the hole to drive them out from the top. Oh yea, and some colorful language!

-VT/JeffH

This message was edited by VT/JeffH on 6-20-14 @ 7:43 PM


dansford    -- 06-21-2014 @ 9:24 AM
  I think the 36 Ford steering box has 3 bolts holding it no need to remove riverts


CharlieStephens    -- 06-21-2014 @ 9:37 AM
  I thought the boxes were bolted onto a bracket that was riveted to the frame. I wonder if Jeff remembers removing the bracket from the frame so he could replace the steering box with a later unit?

Charlie Stephens

This message was edited by CharlieStephens on 6-21-14 @ 10:31 AM


VT/JeffH    -- 06-25-2014 @ 3:03 PM
  Hi Everyone, dansford and Charlie both are correct. Thanks for catching me fellas.

I am not correct about the steering box attachment. It indeed is the bracket that is riveted, and yes Dad and I and JM wrestled with it when we 'upgraded' our '36's steering to '37.

-VT/JeffJ


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