New steering wheel????
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 120
I went to a pick and pull on Thanksgiving week and everything was 50% off. I pulled out three navigator steering wheels for $15 each including the clockspring.
One steering wheel was pretty bad, one was in decent shape and one was in good shape. The good one was gray in color, since it was very nice I pulled it out. I was going to sell it on ebay and make my money back.
The bad steering wheel I used to test how to repair it. Even though I was in very bad shape I was able to sand down the rough spots, prime it and paint it. It came out pretty good. I gave that one to W2KW57.
I repaired the second one and installed that into my Ex.
The gray wheel, I ended up giving it to my good friend for his F250.
Tim M
One steering wheel was pretty bad, one was in decent shape and one was in good shape. The good one was gray in color, since it was very nice I pulled it out. I was going to sell it on ebay and make my money back.
The bad steering wheel I used to test how to repair it. Even though I was in very bad shape I was able to sand down the rough spots, prime it and paint it. It came out pretty good. I gave that one to W2KW57.
I repaired the second one and installed that into my Ex.
The gray wheel, I ended up giving it to my good friend for his F250.
Tim M
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
Tim, when you talk about "sanding down and repainting", are you talking about the leather, or the wood grain portion? If you're talking about the leather, can you offer some more details for your technique/procedure (products used, etc.)?
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
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I can't tell you how Tim did it (bound by Non Disclosure Agreements etc), but I can tell you he did an AMAZING job. I had a chance to see the wheels before and after.
Before, you'd want to wear latex gloves before touching the things. After, it was like the wheels were pulled out of a brand new Ford parts box.
Before, you'd want to wear latex gloves before touching the things. After, it was like the wheels were pulled out of a brand new Ford parts box.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 120
I sanded down the leather and i did it multiple time. I used like 800-1000 grit sandpaper on the leather. Used a primer over the bad areas and sanded/primed over and over again until the bad leather wasn't showing through. When I felt that I had the bad areas covered good with the primer, I put on a few coats of the paint.
I also used a promoter or something like that prior to paint.
I used the following paint color - #120 Ford M DK Pachment
Tim M
I also used a promoter or something like that prior to paint.
I used the following paint color - #120 Ford M DK Pachment
Tim M
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 148
Likes: 1
I just got my refinished wheel back last week from Bob at Race Enterprise: Race Enterprise ? Custom Wood and Leather Steering Wheels. About $240 shipped. It looks great. Haven't installed yet, still working on the engine rebuild, but I'll try to post a pic tonight.
Hotshot
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 11,286
Likes: 263
From: North of Greenville
Thanks, Tim.
Good additional feedback on the 1st run process results, Y2K.
Something which worked exceptionally well for my nasty looking Excursion steering wheel last August... The Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean. You have to take it slow and repeatedly rinse the sponge, but it does an amazing job and may save someone a complete restoration effort if their wheel is not TOO bad. I had considered replacing my wheel before selling the Ex, but it came out so nice that I didn't have to go any further than a $4 box of Magic Eraser. You can Google it and find lots of references where lots of folks have used it with great results on steering wheels and other leather covered components.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/15137432?...&wl13=&veh=sem
Good additional feedback on the 1st run process results, Y2K.
Something which worked exceptionally well for my nasty looking Excursion steering wheel last August... The Magic Eraser by Mr. Clean. You have to take it slow and repeatedly rinse the sponge, but it does an amazing job and may save someone a complete restoration effort if their wheel is not TOO bad. I had considered replacing my wheel before selling the Ex, but it came out so nice that I didn't have to go any further than a $4 box of Magic Eraser. You can Google it and find lots of references where lots of folks have used it with great results on steering wheels and other leather covered components.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/15137432?...&wl13=&veh=sem
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Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2011
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I was only kidding about the NDA. The truth is, I really don't know how Tim manages to get so many different types of things done and done well... but whenever he undertakes doing something, he always does it with gusto and gets great results.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,465
Likes: 17
From: Jacksonville, FL
Baby wipes work wonders on all sorts of surfaces and I have been using them on my parchment colored wheel for a good while, they bring all the dirt out really easily and don't leave a residue behind (one of the side benefits to having kids, always have a pack in there!) obviously if the leather is damaged it's not going to help, but just for a grimy steering wheel they work wonders!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,254
Likes: 120
As far as the parts of the leather that was still in good shape but dirty, I did use multiple cleaners and even the magic eraser which got it cleaned. The damaged leather needed additional TLC to get repaired and looking right.
Tim M
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