Can't Get the #@##%### Steering Wheel Off

[flyboy2610]

Whenever possible, such as pulling a steering wheel, I like to leave the nut on in case the puller boogers up the threads a bit. Then when I take the nut off it cleans up the threads.

[trukcrazy]

Hey Rick, did you ever get the wheel off? I have had good luck with stubborn bolts and such by soaking with the aforementioned penetrating oil, then put your puller on with the bolts tight in the wheel. Tighten the puller up as far as you feel comfortable and if the wheel doesn't come off, lightly tap on the pullers center bolt(the same one you are tightening down on to remove the wheel) while slowly tightening it a little more with each tap. And remember to always use the force when doing this and wear safety glasses . When using the proper puller, I have never had a wheel fly off the column and hit me, it just pops off and sits on the end of the column.

[ttyR2]

Yeah, even when I had the puller cranked down tight on my truck, the wheel barely jumped at all when it popped loose.

[trukcrazy]

Hey Rick, that wheel ever come off? John.

[rs899]

Nope- didn't try this weekend. I have in the past tapped on the puller with it torqued down- that didn't help.

I was in the boneyard yesterday and there was a "61 Falcon like my daddy used to have with basically the same wheel- smaller diameter . The nut was off the wheel. Just for grins I tried wiggling it off and it came off no problem.

[trukcrazy]

I don't know, sounds like you have the grandaddy of stuck wheels . I wouldn't know what else to suggest, sorry. Good luck. John.

[68F100]

Have you tried cussing at it??

[rs899]

Oh yeah-

OK I decided to take a stab at it this weekend. I went back to upullit and measured that old Falcon wheel I had pulled. It's the same, but it's cracked a bit more. I left it there but got serious with my wheel. First I got out my long 3/4" breaker bar- no dice. Then I took the gas tank out so I could work in safety. Then I used the blue wrench on the SOB. Then cranked with the heavy breaker bar. Nada.

Then I went over to my friends house where I had a 71 parts truck. I pulled the column out of that one brought it home and popped the wheel off that one easily (unfortunately it was quite broken) . With the recalcitrant column now out of the car I again used the 3/4" bar with probably 75 -80 ft lbs of torque on it. Still nothing.

I think what I'm gonna do to salvage (?) the wheel is take a sawsall to the column shaft and try to press the stub out.

Now I've hosed up the rag joint and I'll have to dig up another one. At least I'm making progress with the wiring as it looks like the signal cam is working on the "new " column.

[rjewkes]

Good luck. Any auto house should have the rag joint its ok if it says universal.

[Heavenlyfire]

Had to replace my wheel because it was broken and in bad shape. Had the same problem . Finally, since i was replacing it anyway, i took out a few frustrations on it with a dead blow hammer :twisted: . That did the trick after awhile, but it sure was fun

[rjewkes]

God Bless NPD!