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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering wheel boss

Is the steering wheel boss an interference fit onto the column? Mine was a bit of a pig to remove, and now shows evidence that it was never really fitted properly on the splines in the first place, just beaten into place.
Should this be the case, or should it slide on the splines relatively easily? If the latter, what prevents the boss from moving towards the front of the car (obviously the nut prevents it coming off towards the rear)?

Dave
DH2

Hi Dave,

It should slide on and off almost freely, but be "sticky" when it is fully assembled because of the tight fit (over time, it seems to almost "weld" itself on, but it usually will come off after one good whack to break that "grip".


there ought to be a shoulder on the column that the boss is pressed against by the big nut


Norm
Norm Kerr

The splines have a slight taper iirc.
So the tighter you turn the nut the more fixed it is
Onno Könemann

It is a non-standard wheel which was fitted many years ago by a previous owner (so over 25 years ago). It took a hell of a pulling contraption to get it off, and the splines on the boss are a bit nadgered...

Dave


DH2

After all these years I had never noticed of the splines were a taper.

Just out of sheer curiosity, I'm going to take mine off tomorrow, and take a peek and a measure, just to be sure. Out comes my hide hammer. (I don't use a puller).
Lawrence Slater

I remember sage advice on this site about leaving the steering wheel nut on a couple of threads on the column so when the steering does eventually come loose, it doesn't smack you in the face. Very good advice it was too!

Jeremy
Jeremy 3

No choice but to use a puller on mine, the splines were definitely interfere-fitted. I had to use a 18" breaker bar on that puller arrangement (the clamp behind the boss is 3mm stock steel angle) to get it to go. It went with an almighty bang, like splitting a tapered ball joint.

Dave
DH2

Maybe somebody put loctite on it, thinking it would be a safety measure. I'm not joking either. Somebody once told me to do that, as it was vital that the wheel didn't come lose whilst driving. I can't remember my exact reply, but it wasn't that complimentary :)
Lawrence Slater

Here's a photo which shows the state of the spline on the boss (the slip is me trying to get it to refit - it appears to have been dry fitted originally). The splines were only engaged by about 5mm or so. You can see that things weren't really lining up properly... but it seems to measure the correct size. I think I may just have to buy a new one, as I don't think this one can be refitted properly.

Dave


DH2

It's one of the probems I've had with all my cars, it's a big nut on there and it really doesn't need to be all that tight, but people insist on getting it as tight as is humanly possible, with the result that the boss becomes very very wedged on the tapered splines, and impossible to get off in a normal fashion. It should be possible to just hit it from behind with your palms, so it comes off and hits you in the face unless using the method mentioned.

I had to have a silmilar pulling arrangement to get my original wheel off.

Looks like someone's just mashed that on, I'd go for a new boss.
Rob Armstrong

I just killed 3 birds with one stone.

I satisfied my curiosity on two fronts, whilst at the same time removing an annoyance. How bad is that then?

My annoyance was that for years my steering wheel sat at about 4 o/clock, but I couldn't be bothered to get the socket set out and straighten it.

So my thanks to Onno, for peaking my curiosity about the tapered splines, sufficiently for me to want to take a look at mine.

The splines are not tapered. However the column is. As Norm said there is a shoulder after the splines, and from that shoulder, the column tapers out. The Boss is clamped onto it.

My other curiosity was why people have so much trouble removing the wheel.

Bob asswered that before me. I agree with bob, it's simply a case of being done up too tight, when all it needs is tight enough, and not the use of a torque wrench.

Mine practically fell off, with the lightest tap with my hide hammer.

As for your boss, don't replace it, just get a needle file and repair the splines. Very easy.

Lawrence Slater

I was thinking I should have a go at cleaning up the splines with a needle file first - nothing to lose really at this stage, other than time.

Dave
DH2

Dave,
Try a run through with a hack saw blade, might be easier than a file to begin with.

Time saves money in this case :)
Lawrence Slater

A way to get the wheel off that has usually worked for me is to undo the nut then screw it back on a couple of turns as advised by Jeremy, then grip the wheel at the quarter to three position and pull hard very quickly with alternate hands. This usually breaks the taper.

Bernie.
b higginson

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2011 and 16/09/2011

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.