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MG TD TF 1500 - How do you remove the TD Steering Wheel...and more

Title basically states it all. I have the center cap off and the nut off but don't have the correct type of puller. Any other tricks to get it off or do I need to go buy something for it.

Next question is what to do with it. The rim is really cracked and held together with one of those wholy brown wheel wraps from the 70's. Can I have it repaired or should I try and keep the original spokes and hub and have a wood one made out of it?

Pics would be lovely:-)
vping

Vince..
Undo the clamp behind the steering wheel . Remove the little coffin shaped key and slide the upper shaft out from the column. Support the rear of the wheel on 2x4s or what ever you can improvise. Reinstall the nut in the center of the wheel so that the upper end of the shaft is on level with the nut. Then with a hard wood dowel or large brass/aluminum drift placed against the nut you should rap it smartly with a BFH. This should move the shaft a little bit and then remove the nut.
If this fails make a mixture of laquer thinner and automatic transmission fluid and pour it on the shaft. This is the best loosen-all fluid you can find.
Sandy
SANDY SANDERS

Vince

I think it all depends on how much corrosion you have and how tight the shaft is. I let mine soak with liquid wrench and various lubricants for a couple months or more and still couldn't get it off, and I whacked it pretty hard. I finally took it to a local shop that used a press and got it off in a couple minutes but it came loose with a loud pop.
A decent or best cheapest as I say press is on my list of things to buy.

Regards,
Rich
Richard Taylor

What to do with it?

Look at: http://www.british-cars.net/mgtd-mgtf1500-bbs/td-steering-wheel-200711031908113160.htm
Willem vd Veer

Remove the entire steering wheel with the short shaft it's attached to first. The shaft will only be about 8" long when removed. Don't drop the tiny little "key" that holds the shaft on. Then you can put the shaft in a vise and work on it easily. I seem to remember putting the nut back on and wacking the nut/shaft with a mallet protecting the nut with a 2x4. Something like that, it's been a few years, but the shaft finally came off. You'll probably find my old archive post about this with the advice I got back then.
Ed
efh Haskell

None of my friends and family know this but when I removed my steering wheel, I bloodied my nose and almost broke it. I started the procedure as everyone above is suggesting. I then sat in the driver's seat and grabbed the wheel with both my hands and pulled with all my strength. It was very tight and I was determined. However I wasn't prepared when the wheel broke free and I whacked myself in my face. Luckily since I play rugby I was easily able to convince everyone that the damage was caused by my recent match, because I would have been laughed out of town if they really knew what happened. I remember sitting in the car, very dazed, steering wheel in my hands, eventually laughing at how dumb I was. Now at least you know this. I still think its funny.
Mike Iandolo

I opted to go the leather wrap route as I have a wood dash and a wood wheel would have been to much. I wanted a perfect match to the upholstery so I went back to Moss and bought leather of the same color as my interior kit. Then I taught myself how to stich leather. I used plain old rubber hose, split down the middle, and wrapped the steel core with that. Then put a couple layers of tape around the whole thing.

See the attached pic.


l rutt

Vince
Lots of archive threads on removing the wheel similiar to those expressed above. Also many on making wood replacement rims (try "wood steering wheel") . Also a few threads on the hopeless case of trying to match the original "plastic like wood" material in texture, color. The esteemed Gordon Lawson has a cottage business making beautiful rims. (Apologize to others who also do/did, just a brain lapse on names.) Others just fill the cracks/crevices with strong epoxy and then cover with the leather wrap kits from local auto store.
If your spokes are loose from the rim (as mine were), they can be welded back in place.
Randy
Randy Biallas

Vince, check the archives. If it's that tight, use the 'remove wheel with shaft' approach. It's 'only' a friction fit (tapered). Pulling hard on the wheel is guaranteed to be a way to break the welds of some of the rods. Then you're in trouble. Bud (BTDT)
Bud Krueger

I was fortunate that my TD has had since way before my ownership, a really neat wood wheel in the Moto-Lita tradition. Thin rim with the aluminum visible.

Richard Taylor on this board had a beautiful wheel made by Pearlcraft, in NSW Austrailia. It's a work of art. www.pearlcraft.com.au Richard was kind enough to send me their business card.

And as others have mentioned Gordon L does a beautiful job.

Mike, I laughed so hard at your story that I spit up a coke on my keyboard.

Larry, "Then I taught myself how to stich leather" I'm always impressed at the great ideas our fellow posters come up with to solve a problem. Your wheel is beautiful.

I would say that you want to be careful not to ding up the splines on the wheel shaft as that can make sliding the wheel a challenge. Otherwise, you could go the John Twist route... loosen the nut to the top of the shaft, place your knees under the wheel forcing up towards your chest, and with a soft and hard pair of hammers, strike the nut so as to drive the shaft back. The wheel will pop off.

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

Vince

Sometimes pictures are worth a thousand words and I have my steering wheel loose to put in and out as I've been working on the dash wiring. Here's the photo of the splined shaft with the slot for the key.

The next photo shows where the key goes.

Dave


Dave Runnings

Second Photo of where key goes.


Dave Runnings

It worked for me! repairing a steering wheel.>http://www.gomog.com/allmorgan/steeringwheel.htm
Len Fanelli

Thanks guys. The pics helped out a lot. I got the wheel off and it's soaking in some pb. Now what to do with it? I have well above average woodworking skills but too much to do. I'd like to get this car wrapped up in the next month or so.
vping

http://gblandco.com/oldwheel/oldwheel.html
gblawson(gordon)

Ed wrote: "Remove the entire steering wheel with the short shaft it's attached to first. The shaft will only be about 8" long when removed. Don't drop the tiny little "key" that holds the shaft on".

Coincidentally to this thread, I had to remove the steering wheel last week and, as the wheel was a tight fit, went down the removal of the shaft as well route. There's no sign of a "key", which presumably some PO lost. Looking at older threads, there's a view that, if the clamp is done up tight, the shaft is very unlikely to work free. Is that still a valid view or should I be looking to replace the key? It looks to be around £5 at Brown and Gammons, BTW.

Regards,

- Tom.
Tom Bennett

When adjusting the wheel the key is what keeps the shaft from coming all the way out. If the wheel adjustment should loosen while driving, the steering wheel could come completely out. Would fixing a collision from inoperative steering be more than £5?

warmly,
dave
Dave Braun

If you were taking orders Gordon, I'd be on that list. Really wonderful work.

Are there any companies out there that re-store them as originally fabricated?
vping

Dave wrote: "When adjusting the wheel the key is what keeps the shaft from coming all the way out. If the the wheel adjustment should loosen while driving, the steering wheel could come completely out. Would fixing a collision from inoperative steering be more than £5?"

Couldn't agree with you more, Dave but it wasn't the cost I was querying. Just in looking at previous, older, threads, there seemed to be some difference of opinion on whether the key was necessary. I can see the sense in replacing it and I'll do so.

Regards,

- Tom.
Tom Bennett

Vince.... Kip Motors used to... think they might still...

I do take orders, but that website was for those who wanted to do their own...
gblawson(gordon)

This thread was discussed between 07/05/2010 and 09/05/2010

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