Stuck steering wheel
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 51
Likes: 1
Stuck steering wheel
Sorry if I'm polluting the forum with ridiculous questions lately but I'm in a jam on my 1950 F1.
my steering wheel is stuck. I have a puller...
I've tried a lot of patience, a lot of pb blaster and gentle coercion with a rubber mallet. I've read that too much hammering can destroy the Box.
my steering wheel is stuck. I have a puller...
I've tried a lot of patience, a lot of pb blaster and gentle coercion with a rubber mallet. I've read that too much hammering can destroy the Box.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 294
From: Central Michigan
Does the 50 have a hollow steering shaft like the 55? If so be careful. I messed my hollow shaft up good. I has able to fix and rethread it. If it is hollow I would recommend taking off the nut and any washer or whatever is there and threading the nut back on until flush with the tube. Then put on your puller and tightening up. You can also tap on the threaded end of the puller to shock it, and use some penetrating oil. Hopefully it will move up to the nut then remove nut and wheel. I don't know if you can use heat on that seems a little scary... Good luck!
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 4
From: NJ
I have never tried to remove a steering wheel on this truck but on all other vehicles that I have owned, there is an spring clip (for lack of a better term) that is in a groove between the nut and the wheel. You need to push the wheel down to remove this clip before applying the puller.
Later!
Mr. Ed
Later!
Mr. Ed
Cross-Country
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 74
Likes: 1
Most steering wheels have two threaded holes in the base of the wheel along side the steering shaft, the wheel puller adapter screws into those,as Greg said put the nut back on the shaft,this keeps the threads from being ruined from the end of the puller, I would also use a flat washer on top of the nut for the puller to rest on, put tension on the puller tap the adjusting screw head a few times,tighten it again, do this a couple times leave it sit over night with tension on it and rap it a couple times the next day, a few hits with a hammer on the bottom of the spokes will help also.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 51
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So I had actually deleted my original comments in my initial post because I was simply embarrassed about it, however after a good friend came by to help me this morning he laughed at first but then quickly realized it was no joking matter.
The puller had actually pressed the big nut down over the threads and smoothed them out and the cheap bolts in my puller actually stretched to the point they were no longer fine thread bolts (in the middle).
It took a lot of heat and a completely destroyed steering wheel to finally break it free but it's apart and at this point I don't know if I destroyed by steering box or not but it still seems to work (front end up on jacks)
The puller had actually pressed the big nut down over the threads and smoothed them out and the cheap bolts in my puller actually stretched to the point they were no longer fine thread bolts (in the middle).
It took a lot of heat and a completely destroyed steering wheel to finally break it free but it's apart and at this point I don't know if I destroyed by steering box or not but it still seems to work (front end up on jacks)
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 1,872
Likes: 294
From: Central Michigan
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Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2014
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The puller you buy today for these old wheels is Mickey Mouse. I tried one myself and just bent the bolts of the puller. I ended up buying the correct KR Wilson puller and used grade 8 bolts and it came right out. You need the leverage of the puller handle to overcome the leverage of cranking the bolt. The fact that your wheel has probably never been removed in 60 Years is working against you also. I have a 48-52 wheel if you are interested, pm me.
JB
JB
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Elder User
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 703
Likes: 4
From: NJ
Way back when, I was in a junk yard San Diego and the guy was taking a steering wheel off of a car. He disconnected the shaft from the box, took off the nut and hit the end with a 10# sledge. The second hit and the wheel popped off. If you want to save the column, put the nut back on the protect the threads.
Later!
Mr. Ed
Later!
Mr. Ed
Tuned
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 358
Likes: 32
From: washington
When I pulled mine, I had the windows out so used 3 ratchet straps around top of cab and the two corners., I could play a tune on them they were so tight, pb plaster and some tapping. finally gave in to the pressure. Unconventional but it did the trick.
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