Steering wheel

Browniepetersen

I am pulling the wheel on my 54. It seems a simple process but it is being nasty. Got a good connection with the puller but even with torque it will not budge. Any tricks you folks know off?

rambos_ride

The wheel center and splines get rusted together.

Did you use any penetrating oil like Kroil, BreakFree CLP or WD40?

If so - theres always the "hot-wrench"
you can try a micro-torch or even a heat-gun or last resort hairdryer and carefully heat the center section - you're not wanting it red-hot or anything close..just trying to get things to expand and contract to loosen up the wheel.

Another trick I've done is place the Nut back on the shaft just at the end of the threads, not tightened down...put both knees up behind the wheel applying pressure towards your body..and strike the nut with a small sledge hammer...sometimes thats enough to break it loos.

bob ward

Tightening the centre bolt of your puller with a rattle gun rather than just a socket and handle sometimes works.

If that doesn't work, once you have the puller tightened up as much as you are game, a blow with a BFH on the head of the centre bolt is often effective.

As has been said, penetrating oil and gentle heat are good preparations for the removal process.

[Deleted User]

Get some freeze mist rust buster and spray into shaft hole where wire is at very top. This shrinks the metal slightly and breaks it loose so puller will work,
Roger

PAULARGETYPE

I HAVE USED AIR IN A CAN THAT COMES OUT REAL COLD ON THE SHAFT AND DOWN THE CENTER HOLE AS ROGER SAID I WOULD USE KROIL FIRST BUT WE DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU THAT WE KNOW YOU KNOW ALL ABOUT KROIL AFTER ALL ELSE I WOULD TRY THE 1/2 IMPACT GUN

Chris Smith

spray it down with wd40 or like and put pressure to your puller and walk away. leave the nut on because its gonna pop when the oil creeps in far enough.

duncan

I saw my friend unseize some screws that were threaded into hidden nuts by heating the head of bolt with small propane torch then applying the bottom end of a wax candle .I waited a few minutes and screwed out the bolt. I couldn;t believe it. Ray

lostmind

I'd try Rays suggestion first. Hammer is the last resort. Just for your info , cleaning vinegar
works great on rust , you just have to give it time to work.
If the wax doesn't work at first , put pressure on the puller and leave it over night.

Browniepetersen

Like a dunce I pulled the bolt off and tried to use a wheel puller; rolled the threads on the center section. When nothing else worked, I cut a bolt in half and with vice grips and the bolt below the rolled threads I worked the grips/bolt up the shaft until it smoothed out the threads. I ran a dye down the threads and put the bolt back on and put the wheel puller on with pressure. A good coat of WD-40 and I will see what it looks like in the morning.

Browniepetersen

OK three days soaking with a good coat of WD-40 each morning and night. My irritation level is really challenging my patience. Yesterday a good friend and car guy dropped by and mentioned that he had a puller that attached under the wheel casing (much what Glen Johnson suggested to me). I figured I would simply soak things until Monday when I could raid one or the other of my friends shops for the "old style" wheel puller. I was futzing today starting to remove the hardware under the wheel when I decided to give it another shot. Little or no torque force and it broke free. Another lesson in patience for me.... NOW Back to work...

RL Chilton

Brownie-

For future reference, lose the WD-40 and pick up a quality can of penetrating oil. The "wait time" is considerably more reasonable.

PAULARGETYPE

I'M GLAD YOU GOT IT APART YOU SOUNDED ALL WORKED UP KICK BACK TILL THE MORNING THEN BACK AT IT LOL

Browniepetersen

Paul, that is just my personality. Like a bull in a china closet. I really love doing this stuff, but patience has never been a trait that I have done well?

DavidC

Ditto Chris Smith. Mess up threads on steering shaft first time by trying to force the issue. Have patience. Leave tension on it. Repeatedly spray with penetrant, walk away. Come back every now and then and give puller another turn. Mine popped off while away.

54SuperWasp

Sometimes I'm very patient. I leave the job for awhile...And forget to get back at it...Michel

54SuperWasp

When I was young, everytime I tried to fix my car and encountered a problem, my Dad used to say: ''Leave that thing there, have a beer, it will be easier after''. And what's funny, he was right!
I think he was the King of procrastination! But I'm very patient now. Got that from Mom. That's why I'm quite confident when I'll be working on my 54...Can't say when, but I know it was supposed to be two years ago...Time flies... Michel

[Deleted User]

FYI- a 50/50 mix of auto trans fluid and acetone is the BEST penetrating solution you can get your hands on.

[Deleted User]

And they have done tests to prove that mix works best ,
Roger

SuperDave

But Jeez.. It's rough on the paint.