DIY Steering Knob

[troutsqueezer]

Ok, it ain't much...but there's a cool factor - however small.

I could have splashed down 20 bucks plus shipping to buy one of these over the Internet but I'm cheap and they look so easy to make. Now, whether it works or not, I won't know until tomorrow when I come home from work and try it on.

Started with piece of aluminum rod and turned it to shape.

Parted it off.

Scrounged up parts from around the shed. Tried to keep the parts galvanized as much as I could. I put rubber grommets over the nuts so as not to scrape my hand accidentally. I lined the inside of the clamp with rubber to keep it from slipping around the steering wheel.

Fingers crossed.

I'll take another pic tomorrow after it's installed.

 

[branman1971]

Ok, it ain't much...but there's a cool factor - however small.

I could have splashed down 20 bucks plus shipping to buy one of these over the Internet but I'm cheap and they look so easy to make. Now, whether it works or not, I won't know until tomorrow when I come home from work and try it on.

Started with piece of aluminum rod and turned it to shape.

Parted it off.

Scrounged up parts from around the shed. Tried to keep the parts galvanized as much as I could. I put rubber grommets over the nuts so as not to scrape my hand accidentally. I lined the inside of the clamp with rubber to keep it from slipping around the steering wheel.

Fingers crossed.

I'll take another pic tomorrow after it's installed.

Wow! That's beautiful. I want one!

 

[kebo]

The storebought spinners are designed to fit over the wheel at the junction of one of the spokes. Mounting it to a spoke keeps it from slipping in both the x and y axis. Sorry to use those terms, but that's the best way I know to describe the two directions it can move. I suspect yours will be able to move some unless you can get it to grip the wheel very tightly. Still, a very nice piece of workmanship for next to nothing in parts and you won't have to worry about it rusting!

 

[troutsqueezer]

Thanks for the heads up. I didn't get a chance to try it on this evening but I'm already thinking of a way to modify it in case it does want to move.

I'm wondering where the best spot would be to mount it? I'm thinking 6 O'clock. Any reason another spot might be better?

Thanks for the compliments guys.

 

[texasjohn]

It is cool, greaat workmanship:thumbsup:

Now, you gotta know that I have 3 spinners and love them...yes, all on the same steering wheel. Turns out that my tractor and many others no longer have a direct connection to the front wheels, but are hydraulically connected. This means that the position of the wheel versus the tires moves around...no set location...thus spinner doesn't stay in one spot...thus, needed 3 of them to make sure there would be a spinner under my hand when I need it to be.

Your spinner location may vary:laughing:

Did you do all those drawings for the spinner?? That's a work of art itself!

 

[mrmikey]

I'm wondering where the best spot would be to mount it? I'm thinking 6 O'clock. Any reason another spot might be better?

Nice piece of work.
Thinking out loud here, if you have full hydraulic steering, i.e. no direct mechanical connection between the wheel and front axle, will the wheel be in the same location in relation the the front wheels everytime?....Mike

 

[chopped]

Being cheap would be using a door knob lol

 

[kennyd]

It is cool, greaat workmanship:thumbsup:

Now, you gotta know that I have 3 spinners and love them...yes, all on the same steering wheel. Turns out that my tractor and many others no longer have a direct connection to the front wheels, but are hydraulically connected. This means that the position of the wheel versus the tires moves around...no set location...thus spinner doesn't stay in one spot...thus, needed 3 of them to make sure there would be a spinner under my hand when I need it to be.

Your spinner location may vary:laughing:

Did you do all those drawings for the spinner?? That's a work of art itself!

Nice piece of work.
Thinking out loud here, if you have full hydraulic steering, i.e. no direct mechanical connection between the wheel and front axle, will the wheel be in the same location in relation the the front wheels everytime?....Mike

Hydrostatic steereing is the term you guys are looking for...and yes, often the spinner would be in a different place.

 

[czechsonofagun]

What lathe is that?

 

[troutsqueezer]

It is cool, greaat workmanship:thumbsup:
Did you do all those drawings for the spinner?? That's a work of art itself!

Thanks again! The drawings are for one of the model engines I am building. You can see a version in the background of the second pic. That one is an internal combustion hit-and-miss. I didn't do the original drawings but I have modified them heavily.

Nice piece of work.
Thinking out loud here, if you have full hydraulic steering, i.e. no direct mechanical connection between the wheel and front axle, will the wheel be in the same location in relation the the front wheels everytime?....Mike

Well now...my tractor is new to me and I've not thought of that. It's a Kubota B21. Does that have hydrostatic steering? I'm at work so can't go and look. If it does, I guess the question is moot.

Being cheap would be using a door knob lol

Good point. I'm thinking though...those door knob types seem to be a thing of the past, at least around here. If I went to the flea market to find one, I bet they'd charge me a few bananas, you know...it's an "antique".

What lathe is that?

That's the Harbor Freight mini lathe, 7 x 10, made by Seig. Not a bad lathe for the price, as long as you do some modifications to it.