[Healeys] Steering wheel restoration

[Randy Hicks]

Roger Moment asked me to share this with the group.

Randy,
 
Attached is a note I wrote years ago on steering wheels.  It was published in the Austin-Healey Magazine (publication of the AHCUSA). but I don’t recall just when. Anyhow, you’re welcome to share it with the forum if there’s a way to attach it to a note.
 
Finally, John Spaur’s comment about buying new wheels (instead of bothering to restore originals) is fine except that there is no reproduction of the 100 non-adjustable wheel.  It differs from 6-cylinder non-adjustable one in two significant ways:
 
1)  the spokes come together more closely at the rim, with equal and small spacing between each of the four
 
2)  the finger grips are rather smooth bumps spaced quite a ways apart – you can see their shape in the upper left corner of my photo.
 
You can share the photo as well.  Please let me know if you are able to share with the forum.
 
Roger












> On Feb 15, 2016, at 5:03 PM, John Spaur <jmsdarch at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> 
> I would not recommend restoring the original plastic steering wheels when
> excellent reproductions are available.
> 
> The reason the plastic has cracked is because water has penetrated the wheel
> and it has started to oxidize the metal reinforcement which has expanded and
> cracked the wheel. That process may of slowed down, but it will never stop.
> 
> I stored an original wheel in my garage for several years intending to
> restore it. It appeared to be in the same reasonable shape when I went to
> inspect it in preparation for restoration. When I pull at parts of it that
> looked to be in good shape, it  just crumbled in my hands.
> 
> John Spaur
> '62 BT7
> 

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