Steering wheel repair

[def38]

Easy for me to say, because this source is within an hour's drive, but new wheels don't need bondo or paint. If your shaft is either 7/8" 36-spline or 11/16"-13/16" tapered w/3/16" keyway there's something at Steiner. Might depend on someone's budget or value of their time, but ..
Steiner Tractor Parts - Search Results for Steering Wheel

By the time I get one of those new steering wheels to my front door it has cost me fifty bucks, a serious dent in my beer budget. So, I'll repair what I've got, stitch on a fancy new leather cover and call it a day.

 

[def38]

I have used probably a thousand gallons of body filler. Bondo may be easy to use here, but it's by far not the best way to fix it.

Yes, it can work. But, Bondo is not waterproof, it's soft, and inflexible.

Definitely, some type of mold able epoxy would be better. We have some neat stuff in the body shop. But, it's not practical for the public to use them.

I would find something at the hardware store, as close to the color of the wheel as possible.

As mentioned, JB Weld is a good choice.

So, I may rethink my choice of filler and give strong consideration to JB Weld. But, Bondo is not waterproof? I thought they used it on boats and cars that eventually get wet....

As mentioned, my repaired wheel will get a fresh paint job after the cracks have been filled.

 

[grnspot110]

PC7 epoxy!

 

[ray66v]

So, I may rethink my choice of filler and give strong consideration to JB Weld. But, Bondo is not waterproof? I thought they used it on boats and cars that eventually get wet....

As mentioned, my repaired wheel will get a fresh paint job after the cracks have been filled.

I have 43 years of experience working with body filler. I can make anything out of it.

Bondo absorbs water like a sponge. Anyone who has tried to fill a rot hole in a car with it, can tell you, it bubbles out.

When properly used on your fender, it's sealed between your fender, and multiple layers of primer, sealers, and paint. That effectively waterproofs it. The filler never gets wet.

You can theoretically do the same thing on your steering wheel. But, different materials expand, and contract at different rates. That could cause cracking between the filler, and the plastic of the steering wheel.

A steering wheel also gets pulled on, and pushed on, which could also cause a crack.

I have repaired boats. Bondo is not supposed to be used on boats, near, or below the water line. If you need filler there, you are supposed to use epoxy.

Not saying you can't use Bondo to fix a steering wheel. Just saying I woundn't use it there. Epoxy would be a better option.

 

[dannoGT]

The Model A wheel that I repaired with bondo almost 50 years ago still looks great no bubbles no cracks all I did was hand form the bondo to match the shape of what was left of the old steering wheel sand it smooth and spray it with a little clear. I use JB weld all the time and it is great stuff but if you need half a gallon of it to fix the wheel it's going to be expensive and as other people have mentioned for that price go buy a replacement steering wheel! If you want to fix it cheap then the Wally has a gallon of bondo on sale for $14 and a rattle can of paint for $3 so for less then $20 and 3 hours of time you can have the original steering wheel looking like new!

 

[def38]

I have ordered some epoxy filler for the repair. I chose epoxy because of vibration, flexing (getting tugged and pulled) and for the strength of epoxy. JB Weld would be good but, somewhat expensive so I chose PC7. Once cured, I'll shape it to the spoke profile and then paint it with gloss rattle can enamel. After that has set properly, I'll stitch on the new leather wheel cover.

Thanks to all for your inputs and comments.

 

[dannoGT]

Hey awesome post some pictures when it's done!

 

[def38]

ROGER Wilco regarding photos.

def

 

[Tin man]

My recently acquired (circa 1961) MF has several cracks in the steering wheel. I just ordered a new wheel for $28 delivered to the door. Coulda bought one at the local TSC but they want $55 for the same one,:drink:

 

[def38]

My recently acquired (circa 1961) MF has several cracks in the steering wheel. I just ordered a new wheel for $28 delivered to the door. Coulda bought one at the local TSC but they want $55 for the same one,:drink:

Well, you Texans have more money to throw around on new stuff than us folks over here in Dixieland...we fix stuff and spend the rest on bourbon and beer.roposetoast:

So, what ever happened to the Branch Davidian land after Janet swept in and burned the place down? I had motorcycled by there several times and always wondered.

Enjoyed living in Texas for 30 years. Now, I live in Alabama and just renewed my plates on three vehicles...total, $68.00. No property tax for me either. I gotta get over to the Houston area soon and see what I'm missing...a trip to Galveston is in order for some good seafood at Willie G's.

Go Cowboys.