Subject: [Healeys] Steering wheel repair

From: Michael Salter <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2026 15:13:24 -0400

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Many years ago, I repaired the large cracks in the original steering wheel
of my Phase 1 BJ8 by grinding them out with a Dremel and filling the cracks
with JB weld. After sanding and repainting with epoxy gloss black it looked
great however, after a few years, more cracks appeared at the interface of
the JB Weld and the original plastic from which the rim was molded. Back
then I replaced the original wheel with a shiny new Motolita wood-rim
wheel, with which I was never completely happy, and all was good, sort of.

I am now faced with having to do the same type of repair on the original
wheel from the BN2 which I am currently restoring.

Before starting with the JB Weld process again I thought I should do a
little research to see if I could find a filler material which would form a
stronger bond with the plastic rim material.

Gemini told me that the rim was made of Bakelite but I was not convinced.
Bakelite is a =E2=80=9Cthermoset=E2=80=9D plastic which, when heated, does =
not melt. A
simple experiment quickly proved that the rim plastic was a thermo-plastic
material because it easily melted and could be deformed when heated and
again unlike Bakelite it dissolved in acetone.

I have done some Googling and it seems that it=E2=80=99s very likely that t=
he
plastic used for molding the rims was Tenite=E2=84=A2 cellulose acetate.

Does anyone know for sure what the original steering wheel rims were made
from?

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<div dir=3D"ltr"><div class=3D"gmail_default" style=3D"font-family:arial,sa=
ns-serif;font-size:small">

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">Many years ago, I repaire=
d the large cracks in the original steering
wheel of my Phase 1 BJ8 by grinding them out with a Dremel and filling the =
cracks
with JB weld. After sanding and repainting with epoxy gloss black it looked
great however, after a few years, more cracks appeared at the interface of =
the
JB Weld and the original plastic from which the rim was molded. Back then I
replaced the original wheel with a shiny new Motolita wood-rim wheel, with
which I was never completely happy, and all was good, sort of.<span></span>=
</p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">I am now faced with havin=
g to do the same type of repair on
the original wheel from the BN2 which I am currently restoring.<span></span=
></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">Before starting with
the JB Weld process again I thought I should do a little research to see if=
 I could
find a filler material which would form a stronger bond with the plastic ri=
m
material.<span></span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">Gemini told me that the r=
im was made of Bakelite but I was
not convinced. Bakelite is a =E2=80=9Cthermoset=E2=80=9D plastic which, whe=
n heated, does not
melt. A simple experiment quickly proved that the rim plastic was a thermo-=
plastic
material because it easily melted and could be deformed when heated and aga=
in
unlike Bakelite it dissolved in acetone.<span></span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">I have done some Googling=
 and it seems that it=E2=80=99s very likely
that the plastic used for molding the rims was Tenite=E2=84=A2 cellulose ac=
etate. <span></span></p>

<p class=3D"MsoNormal" style=3D"margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:115%;font-si=
ze:12pt;font-family:&quot;Aptos&quot;,sans-serif">Does anyone know for sure=
 what the original steering wheel
rims were made from?<span></span></p>

<br></div></div>

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From: cgmoog <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:10:22 -0400

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