The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Interiors Suicide knob or not?

Anyone have a suicide (knecker, brody, ect) knob on their steering wheel? I'd like to hear your real world experience & see a photo

My steering is original & backing up while steering is not great

I have a collection of vintage suicide knobs, probably 40-50. I probably won't use one. For my 53 3100 I made a 15" wheel and changed my stock steering ratio to 14.6:1 instead of the stock 22:1 and added EPAS Performance electric P/S. They are super cool. I like the old ones. A small piece of inner tube under the clamp will protect the wheel and keep it from sliding. Some of them came with a rubber pad. Some of them have a release button to swing them out of the way. You have to remember they are there when your wheel is spinning back to center on it's own.

Thanks for the info Mick, I bet those mods sure make it drive easier & precise.

Any particular vintage brands better that others? (thanks for the intel on the rubber pad/inner tube) I never used or even own one.

is this the swing away style your referring to?

https://ebay.us/m/L82JS2

They're called suicide knobs for a reason.

Ol' Roy drives nice with no effort and no need for the "help" of a suicide knob. Keep your hands at 10 and 2 when you're behind the wheel of a 70 year old vehicle.

They were illegal here. I remember a cop making my brother remove one during a traffic stop; this was in the 60's. However, I have seen them on cars modified for handicapped drivers.

When I bought a used handicap-access van with a wheelchair ramp and a driver's station set up for a paraplegic driver in a wheelchair, the hand controls included a D-shaped knob on the steering wheel with a ball bearing pivot. The former owner controlled the brakes and throttle with his left hand, and did the steering with his right. I removed those items, and installed a conventional driver's seat. My brother in law, who was recovering from a broken hip at age 87 never got to ride in it- - - - -he went from a hospital, to a rehab facility, to hospice care. Now I use the wheelchair ramp to help transport my wife to and from doctors' appointments- - - -which is about the only time she is able to leave home.
Jerry

Otto...... they are also called "necker" knobs for a reason too

I haven't seen that one before. I'm no expert on them I just think they are cool. I'm partial to the vintage pin up girl ones. I missed a
Marilyn Monroe knob with her famous nude calendar photo on it in nice condition went for $95. I have a mint copy of that calendar. https://www.google.com/search?q=Vin...e+steering+knob&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUy

I'm just saying that a knob attached to the steering wheel with a worm gear hose clamp isn't something I'd rely upon for any type of driving in any antique vehicle.

One of the main problems is the possibility of severe oversteer when hitting a pothole or something in the road.

Old Blue, my ‘37 Chevy 1/2 ton has one, see the attached photo. It came that way from a former owner. I like it.

I keep my knob with the spare Speedo’s

So yes, I also love a smooth steering wheel with no knob attached. Pullin’ up to a tight parking spot that requires a lot of cranking, makes it nice when you let go and allow the steering wheel to straighten out. Zero bruised knuckles, etc.

It's all good until you hit something that takes the wheel away from you and it makes a rapid 360 turn and that knob tries to take your wrist and put it out the window. Ask me how I know--I had one on a tractor with no power steering and It got away from me one time--my wrist was swelled up for a week. Lucky it didn't break my arm.

I was trained on a deuce and a half. We were told to keep thumbs outside the steering wheel and away from the spokes in case the wheel suddenly spun.

I've debated for a while on adding a knob to the '51s steering wheel and likely will. Just need to find the right period correct one. On thumbs and steering wheels, I cut my teeth as a young teenager working for my Dad in the mid '60s skidding logs with a non-power steering Massey Ferguson 35. A early lesson learned was ALWAYS keep those thumbs outside the steering wheel. Today, 60 some odd years later I still smile remembering Dad and those sweat filled summer days in the thick woods of Arkansas.

RonR

That is exactly the tractor that nearly broke my wrist--a MF35 with Armstrong steering!

I have a Brody knob on my 1953 3100. It has been there for many years, attached to the 3 o'clock spoke of the steering wheel. I use it almost exclusively when backing up or pulling into a tight spot, never when cruising on a highway. I would miss it if it was taken off.

Necker knobs? We called them neckin' knobs.