Two weeks, and counting

[Chucks Stude]

Two weeks ago, I endeavored to remove the steering wheel from my 62. I put the puller on it, squirted everthing with penetrating oil, and of course, it did nothing[xx(].
I have continued to apply penetrating oil, take the puller off, put it back on, retighten, hold my tongue differently, etc.etc. Nothing. Am I just being too impatient? Really don't want to break anything either.

[KGlowacky]

I would put the puller back on and apply the max presuure you are comfortable with and let it sit under pressure for a day or two. Then tap the top of the puller with a hammer , gently of course several times. It may just pop right off. And make sure you are holding your tongue correctly. Just my thoughts.

[jclary]

Chuck, I don't know what puller you are using and it has been some time since I have had to pull a wheel. KGlowacky, seems to have it right but for some details ... If my memory is correct, you leave the large retaining nut on the shaft with it being just a thread or two above flush. Bridge over the nut with a substantial piece of metal and then place the center of your hub puller on that and apply pressure. The sharp rap with a hammer as Ken suggest should result in a noticable "Pop" when the wheel breaks loose. I think "holding your tounge correctly" means keeping it from between your teeth so you don't bite it when the wheel breaks loose! Good luck.

John Clary
Greer, SC
I have only two limitations ...BRAINS & ENERGY
SDC member since 1975

[Flashback]

With pressure on the puller,good deal of pressure,
put your hands at 3 and 9 o'clock, arms outstreatched,
alternate your ,very firm, pulling from side to side in a
rocking motion. Has worked on about 10,000.

Tex E. Grier

[52hawk]

I doubt you're using the proper cusswords for the job.[}] if it's not off by now.

Oglesby,Il.
" He's not happy unless there's some piece of $#%& in the driveway to work on"

[52hawk]

Seriously,I think you're being too PATIENT!! I've pulled a few wheels where I thought I was gonna strip the bolt on the puller. Wear safety glasses,tighten it to where your comfortable,then tighten it a little more.then give it the aforementioned rap with a hammer.[BFH]
Just be sure the nut is on the shaft so you don't mushroom the end of the shaft.

Oglesby,Il.
" He's not happy unless there's some piece of $#%& in the driveway to work on"

[mbstude]

I've never needed a puller on any '61 and up wheels. Removing the bolt and hammering on the backside with a rubber mallat has always done the trick for me. Earlier wheels are a different story though.

Matthew Burnette
Hazlehurst, GA

[jclary]

Well, strong arms yanking, and pounding away with hammers, and no puller .... I always wondered where all those cracks came from I see on so many Studebaker steering wheels!
[img][/img]

John Clary
Greer, SC
I have only two limitations ...BRAINS & ENERGY
SDC member since 1975

[satdoc2]

When pulling the steering wheel on an Avanti, don't put your knees behind the wheel and apply upward pressure. I broke the horn bar on mine by doing so. They are not cheap.
Allen

[Tom Bredehoft]

I removed the wheel on my 55 last year after the car had sat for 30 years, no reason to think it had been off since first assembly. I removed the nut, screwed it back on, (enough to keep the wheel on if it jumped off) and tapped the back with a soft face hammer just to get a feel for it. When I hit it, it jumped up and hit the nut.

I sure didn't need a puller on it.

[img=left]http://www.alink.com/personal/tbredehoft/Avatar1.jpg[/img=left]
Tom Bredehoft
'53 Commander Coupe (since 1959)
'55 President (6H Y6) State Sedan
(Under Construction 571 hrs.)
'05 Legacy Ltd Wagon
All Indiana built cars

[Chucks Stude]

Thanks guys, It has sat under tension for the entire two weeks. I beat on the back of the wheel at one point, with a rubber hammer, and knocked a chunk of the wheel off. As far a torque on the puller, I broke one of the little bolts that go into the wheel. I now balance the two bolts exactly, and use a 1/2" drive ratchet to tighten the center bolt on the puller. The puller is a basic steering wheel puller. Won't striking the bolt mess up the bearings in the collar? Also, there is not enough room around the puller to put the bolt on. I will furnish pics as soon as I get off the road this week. I have done this before, and it wasn't near this hard.

If I didn't need to change the cancellator for the turn signals, I wouldn't even be trying this.