Steering wheel help!

I am trying to install a Grant steering wheel onto my 72 CJ5 (can't fit underneath it). I have removed the horn cap along with the 1 1/4 in nut with the brass ring. However, I cannot get the steering wheel puller into place because of what I assume is the horn wire. If anyone has pulled an intermediate steering wheel and installed a new one, I would appreciate the help.:? Thanks alot!

 

When I did mine, I just put a big washer over the horn button to protect it then pulled it off with the puller.

 

My steering wheel puller cannot physically mount to this steering column. I can't see any way that I can mount the puller and remove it.




Heres' the picks of my puller, am I missing something that would make this job make sense? Thanks alot.

 

Don't know if you have the clearance but you could drill some holes in the old wheel to be able to get the bolts through then put nuts on the other side. No idea if that's possible just a thought.

If nothing else I've pulled wheels off by hand before. Just make sure you put the nut back on loosely so you don't smack yourself in the face with the wheel when it lets go.

 

There's no coverage of the CJ wheel in the '72 manual, so I would assume that it should just come off. If you can't just pop it off like Jason suggests, you might whack the back of it with a BFH, or failing that, make a bracket to go behind the wheel and connect with your puller. Maybe put a big socket upside down over the horn button to span it.

 

MY GOD!!! This thing won't budge!!! I am 6'4" 290lbs and with my full weight this thing isn't even thinking about moving! I am going to lose my mind! I have tried the puller, a C-clamp, a hammer, and every ounce of my weight. What else can I do??? Someone please rescue me!!!

 

So there isn't enough clearance to drill through the wheel to allow you to use your puller? Other than what Tim suggested with making something to allow the use of your puller. I would spray some penetrating oil down inside the spline and just start pulling and wiggling the wheel back and forth and maybe it will go.

 

One trick is to have someone pull up hard on the steering wheel, and then a helper hits the center hub with a hammer. Could come loose violently though, so take care.

 

Alright guys, I have tried both of your other methods suggested. I even tried to drill 2 holes and put large screws into the wheel with nuts on them behind the wheel. I guess the steering wheel is so old and corroded that when I started using the puller, it started to pull the nuts through the back of the steering wheel and not even allow the wheel to budge an inch. I also tried the hitting thing, it felt like beating on a brick wall, but will less results. I have tried everything that I can even imagine. If I can't get it by Monday, I guess I will have to break down and go to a mmmmmmmechanic (NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!). But ya gotta do what ya gotta do. If you have any more suggestions hit me and I will try them, at this point I'm desperate.
Ryan

 

If you got holes in the wheel and were able to use your puller just put some big washers on before the nuts. I'd put two on each bolt if you have room. Use washers that are nice and wide.

 

Go to Harbor Freight (or similar) and get a large bearing separator. You assemble this under the steering wheel (with the flat side to the wheel) and rig up a 2-jaw puller to it, snug it all up good and tight, then whack the center bolt of the puller with a hammer and it'll pop right off. I fought mine to the point of howling at the moon, then did this and was amazed how well it worked. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3979

 

ron, that looks like iot would work great, we had to use a generic three prong puller to get mine off on the 70......it looked like a hub puller IIRC.

 

This works, used the one I made on several Jeeps. Didn't damage the wheels either.
http://www.science.smith.edu/~ejensen/willys/cj2a/steeringwheel.html

 

I had to pull off my original steering wheel last weekend and without the bearing puller the only way I managed it was by carefully cutting through the center hub with a diamond cutting wheel on my dremel. $14 and 15min
Hope this helps.

 

I struggled with mine for 10 days before I went to my mechanic and asked his suggestion. His recomendation as follows:

x's 2 on soaking REPEATEDLY in PB Blaster (tie a fat pillow to your roll bar) get mad as Hades and pull & jerk like there's no tomorrow. If it doesn't come off, get madder & repeat. Worked for me. Bad part was that my mechanic didn't say anything about the pillow. Knocked the heck out of my noggin', but the wheel came off.

Everything else I tried just messed up the old wheel even worse than it already was

 

I plan on trying the method Rondog posted. My question is, how do you get the rubber cover off the center with out tearing everything up?

Jim

 

That, I don't know. My '56 uses the smaller style horn button, and that stuff was missing anyway. All I had was the big nut that held it on, I just took that off and rigged up my puller/separator, tightened it all up, and it popped off. Didn't need any penetrant, but my JEEP sat indoors for 30 years with a top on it too.

 

The horn button is just a rubber cup that is pushed into the steering wheel. It does have an inner metal ring that provides pressure to keep it positioned in an indent in the wheel. Simply take a flat head screw driver, push down while working it between the button & the rim of the wheel & pry/flip it out. Be careful or you will damage the steering wheel. You might want to squirt a little silicone spray around the button first to allow it to slip out more easily. Be careful, use finess, not muscle.

 

A warm day or gentle heating (hair dryer or heat gun on low) might make it more flexible.