The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk How Do I Remove the Steering Wheel From the Shaft?

I have a 38 1/2 ton and the entire steering gear, shaft and wheel are removed from the truck. I don't see how I can install a wheel puller as there are no threaded holes in the wheel, just the holes for the horn button. I also don't want to damage the shaft threads or the steering wheel as I want to reused them once I pull the wheel. Any help or trick?

You need some j-bolts to fasten to the spokes of the steering wheel. Then your puller will work.

The old fashioned way is to wedge your knees under the wheel after removing the center nut, place one hammer on the end of the shaft and give it a good rap with another hammer. Normally the wheel will pop loose. Since the whole thing is loose in your case that won't work. The other option is to use a universal harmonic balancer puller. Substitute three "J" hooks for the threaded bolts that come with the puller. Hook the "J" end under the spokes of the wheel and snug the puller against the shaft. When you have it pretty snug give the end of the puller a good rap with a hammer and it'll pop right off. You can get "J" hooks at any hardware store.
Puller

My '37 wheel has two small 10-32 threaded holes in it. Not sure if they are factory or not, but they work. How does the horn work with out some holes through the wheel?

Joe

I will take a trip to the hardware store and try the J hooks today.

Joe, My steering wheel does have two small holes that look like a tooth pick can go through for the stiff horn wires but no holes with threads.

The J hooks worked great. Not 5 minutes after I got home with the hooks the steering wheel was off and not damaged.
Thank you.
Mike

Excellent! Onward and upward.

Tiny,

I see Jim Carter sells a replacement steering wheel for the 41 truck do you know of anyone who sells one for the 38? I believe the diameter of the steering shaft is different for the 38 and 41, but the steering wheel looks nice and it is priced right. Any help with a steering wheel?

Tiny gave me the same advice a couple of years ago and I was amazed how fast and simple it was. I made my own J hooks from some bolts.

Sorry Mike but I can't help. From what I've read from different post on different sites I kind of doubt it but I have no personal experience with swapping years of steering wheels. I know there are places that re-cast steering wheels. Maybe one of these can re-cast yours???

In 1941 the shaft went to splines instead of a key way, the shafts are both 3/4" diameter. I don't remember what the '41 used, but the '42 -'46 is a straight spline, its been awhile since I swapped mine, but I know something was different about the '41. I do know the wheels will not swap.

The wheels are the same diameter, but the offset is different. I had a whole '41 gear box, shaft, and wheel in my '37 for a while. The wheel has a deeper inset which puts the rim close to your gut, and if you are tight now, it really gets tight with the offset wheel.

If you are dead set on a new wheel, you can cut and weld the later shaft end to your '38 shaft. By cutting a little short, and cutting the tube down a bit, you end up with a '38 gear box with a '41 wheel and horn set up. My truck has a '41 gear box with the top of a '37 shaft, wheel and horn set up. The '41 -'46 gear box has a slower ratio and internal roller bearings for a much easier steering, not quit P/S, but a lot closer then stock was.

Joe

Thank you, maybe someone on the site has had theirs recast and they can chime in.

Chevy went to splines prior to '41 since my '38 coupe has splines. Maybe the trucks didn't???

My 38 truck steering column shaft has splines and no keyway and the steering wheel has both splines and a keyway. I am still trying to find someone who will recast my 38 wheel, any suggestions?

Google "Steering Wheel Restoration". You'll get a boat load of sites for both do-it-yourself and restoration shops.