I am back with more questions. How do you repair a steering wheel? The one on my truck has cracks up around the center. Any help would be thankful.

I am a rookie at this resto stuff. Just trying to some answers so I can reseach and find out how much money I will need to complete each task. And YES I know alot of it.

Thanks,
Backroads Jacks

 

Check out the "Parts Shop" upper right cornor.

Also Eastwood Co is one of several that handle repair kits.

 

Get some PC 7 epoxy at your hardware store. Fill and sand. best. himmelberg

 

I redid the steering wheel on my '49 using POR 15 epoxy, I would think any good epoxy would work. I then painted it black with four coats of clear coat. This way the clear has to wear away before the paint. I has lasted over five years, the only problem I have had is that the original material gave way from the epoxy and new hair line cracks have formed.

I think in my case the oringinal material is constantly deteriorating. The only real way to a good restoration is to have someone completely strip the old material off and cast a new wheel but then you are talking BIG money. Mine looks good enough for me, at least it doesn't have gaping cracks.

 

Ditto on the 2-part epoxy fill. However, I would add that it is important to take a file and open up the cracks. By making them bigger and beveled the epoxy has more surface area to stick to. Apply a little extra so that the finished epoxy is higher than the surrounding plastic. After it has dried a day or two, you can sand the epoxy down to the contour of the original plastic. Mine lasted about five years and then I had to apply it again. Good luck, John

 

You guys rock!!! Thanks for the answers. I think I can handle this job.

Thanks

 

Jack, if it's any help, I think I have a picture or two on Earl's World (link below) of the epoxy repair procedure the fellas have described.

 

I'm getting ready to restore mine too. When it's humid or rainy, the wheel gets incredibly sticky, and gets my hands black! I think if you have power steering, any lessening of the force required to turn the manual steering should prevent the cracks from returning. I'm going to try Eastwood's kit.....

 

Use appliance paint after you are done. It last longer.

 

And for those of us who haven't found the time to do this epoxy and dental work, like me, you may find temporary releif from blackened hands with an $8 vynil steering wheel cover at your local napaquestautozoneshedpartsplace.

With 2, you get a pine-like air freshener. Makes your blow-by smell like turpentine.

 

Midnite Cruiser,

I have always considered the smell my blow by, my truck's that is, as an air freshener.

 

Just wanted to say thanks for all of the help. You guys here on this site are awsome!!!!!

Thanks,
Jack

 

I went to place that sells boat supplies and bought some Marine Tex it is a two part putty that dries hard and is easy to sand. I had a bunch of cracks and used this stuff it worked really well.

 

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