Hello FTE Friends,
Just before I head out to learn all about the wonderful things on Chemotherapy, I thought I'd post this question to have something to look forward upon returning. I hope you don't mind...
So the question is, what should I do about the tired / battered steering wheel on my truck? I have seen YouTube videos where people successfully restore these with some kind of epoxy or something? i think I have the patience to undergo this task. I mean, the worst that can happen is I have to purchase a new one (which is what the wife would prefer not to happen since we need to save to medical BS). no I'm not taking my health lightly, I just think my truck is more fragile than I am at the moment. Don't ask me later either - wink.
Anyway, DC would be more than happy to send me a new shinny one for about 2 bills + s/h.
Oh, in case you were wondering about the Fuel gauge, AutoMeter was out of stock (and evidently behind in production) because I ordered these a month ago and perhaps by the end of this month the order should be filled. Whatever! I've noticed that I've become a little less patient lately. I'm sorry for blabbing.
Paul

 

I have used JB Weld to fill in the cracks on my steering wheel restorations after sanding out and widening the cracks with a dremel. Upon cure, I take my dremel and some sand paper and smooth things out. I finish it with a couple of coats of Krylon FUSION spray paint (it sticks to the plastic/bakelite and available at Walmart, etc.) and let dry. It can be time consuming but not too physically taxing. Comes out looking great. POR also makes kit but a couple of tubes of JB Weld works for me.

Sorry to hear about the chemo, my prayers are with you.

 

Here is what you need. When I get to the point of re-doing my steering wheel, I will use the POR-15 kit. The best price I've seen is through Amazon.


STEERING WHEEL REPAIR KIT-POR-15 Inc.

 

Hey Paul,

Good luck with your treatments!!

I haven't used the POR steering wheel kit, but everything else they sell has been a great product. Their rust primer is tough as nails & so is the chassis paint. I'd bet that their coating will be tough enough for the steering wheel. I'm always amazed at the wear on switches and controls just from hands and fingers.

Dan

 

I too would go with the JB Weld or 2 part epoxy. It will not last forever but nothing a nice leather wrap wouldn't fix.

 

I put mine off as a finishing touch for a very long time.

I just checked my invoices, obsolete and classic ford is where I got mine... They had a 40% off sale in July - so the $199 steering wheel became $129. At that price I sucked it up and just got the new one rather than fiddle with fixing the old. Sounds like they do that every year.
Results here show that fixing isn't a terrible bad idea though - use the kit listed in the above link if you go that route.

 

I used some Duraglass on my cracks. Basically bondo with fiberglass in it. Sanded them smooth and Bobco sprayed it gloss black. Looks brand new!! Had a couple of days total in it.

 

Hello again,
I'm back from the class - interesting yet scary at once. Hopefully there will be no need for all that Chemo... we'll see.

Anyway, I couldn't wait to read your suggestions. You guys ROCK!

Teardropty, thank you for pointing me in the right direction - JB Weld.

Chris, I'm diggin' the POR-15 product. I should have known better. POR-15 is what I used for the frame... Thank you.

Dan, thanks for the wishes... FYI, I too cleaned and restored the original ***** on the dash - though mine needed restoring from years of no activity.

Thank you Yamagrant!

Bryan V, I can see myself taking advantage of a deal like that. I will most definately keep that in mind. I can always restore my wheel and if I don't like it, you know I will, I can have it as a passenger wheel for my wife - the "back seat driver"... shhh don't tell her I said that. wink wink.

Thank you BBKtech2.

 

Did you try Summit for your gauge?

 

I've always used pc-7 from the hardware store.........



eastwood uses it



it's a little thick so the hairline cracks need to be widened.

 

I've repaired cracks in antique tractor steering wheels with a body filler like product and they came out well, have held up well. The new reinforced products are better yet.Rattle can paint.

 

The roll of epoxy that a number of manufacturures produce is a good choice for this application (not runny)

 

I was going to repair mine, even bought the tubes of JB Weld. Then I found a good used one on ebay, $50 bucks. A real good buy and cheaper in terms of my time and who knows how it would have turned out! So my old one is now hanging on my garage wall...