Rooster18221 Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 Fellow Seven Owners: I am attempting to remove the steering wheel on my Seven, which has been installed for 40 years. The wheel has essentially seized on the steering shaft. Has anyone had this issue prior and can offer suggestions to remove without destroying either the wheel or the shaft? This is a standard steering wheel, as I recall, and is not a Moto Lita. Any help appreciated. Thanks. R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted May 8, 2023 Share Posted May 8, 2023 I assume you have a steering wheel that comes off with three screws under the center cap, leaving a hub with three threaded holes and a big nut in the center. Harmonic balancer pullers also double as steering wheel pullers. https://www.amazon.com/ATP-Harmonic-Balancer-Steering-Puller/dp/B0721H8S84/ref=asc_df_B0721H8S84?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400106&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468443972&psc=1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IamScotticus Posted May 9, 2023 Share Posted May 9, 2023 (edited) Probably have a six bolt Mountney GT? The hub will be an aluminum alloy that may have corroded to the shaft. In which case a puller will be required. I am having difficulty removing my wiper arms and read on L7C that the spindles are pot metal and known to corrode and seize to the arms. That seems to be what's happening to me so I assume it could happen to the steering hub. Puller. Ive been wanting to get mine off as well so lets see if any of my articulated pullers do the job tomorrow. Edited May 9, 2023 by IamScotticus Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pethier Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 On 5/8/2023 at 1:59 PM, MV8 said: I assume you have a steering wheel that comes off with three screws under the center cap, leaving a hub with three threaded holes and a big nut in the center. Harmonic balancer pullers also double as steering wheel pullers. https://www.amazon.com/ATP-Harmonic-Balancer-Steering-Puller/dp/B0721H8S84/ref=asc_df_B0721H8S84?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400106&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468443972&psc=1 Mine has 9 screws outside the center cap. Makes my "negative spacer" trick possible. My boss has places to grab with a two-jaw puller. Would have worked if I had left the steering wheel on. I needed an impact wrench to get the big nut off first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MV8 Posted October 31, 2023 Share Posted October 31, 2023 To spread the load across the hub adapter to help prevent damage, 1/8x2x4 inch steel strips can be drilled to pickup 3-4 wheel mounting holes and provide an edges for a two jaw puller or holes for a harmonic balancer puller. The wheel can be used to mark the strips for drilling the holes. A pencil torch moving around the base and wd40 help too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbcollier Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Loosen the large nut, and back it out a bit but do not remove it. Grab the wheel at 9 and 3 and wiggle it side to side. 90% will pop off. If not, repeat and have your assistant use a brass drift and BFG and smack the shaft (nut still in place) while you wiggle again. That gets the remaining 10%. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pethier Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 2 hours ago, jbcollier said: Loosen the large nut, and back it out a bit but do not remove it. Grab the wheel at 9 and 3 and wiggle it side to side. 90% will pop off. If not, repeat and have your assistant use a brass drift and BFG and smack the shaft (nut still in place) while you wiggle again. That gets the remaining 10%. Not me. I'm not hammering on anything before I try a puller. If the puller is on and not doing its thing, I may then tap the puller straight on. I recall that I had trouble once with a ball-joint separator on my Lotus Elise. It was tightened up and just sat and looked back at me. I left the shop and went in the house to get nastier clothes on before getting rough with it. When I arrived back at the shop, the ball joint had popped while I was gone. Of course I had had the nut on loose, so nothing flew around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbcollier Posted November 2, 2023 Share Posted November 2, 2023 Tapers are a problem for pullers. The break away force can be very high such that parts can be damaged. Especially soft aluminium parts like steering hubs. I you must use a puller, use a bearing splitter against the hub to spread the force. The hammer blow shocks the taper, allowing it to break free under much less pressure. Much better for everything involved. YMMV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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