Need Advice On Pulling Steering Wheel

[Guest shadetree77]

My dad and I have been trying to pull the old steering wheel off our 52 Buick and so far nothing has worked. In the service manual it shows a 3 jawed puller of sorts being used. We tried a small 3 jawed puller but the tips of the claws were too fat to go in the holes on the steering wheel mounting plate. We went all over town looking for a smaller tipped puller but no luck. We also tried rigging up a harmonic balancer puller with some bolts and washers. That didn't work either. It just bent the bolts and washers! I talked to a guy in town that specializes in 50's chevy's and he told me that I would have to grind down the tips of the claws on a 3 jawed puller until they fit in the holes. My dad and I are going to buy one this morning and try this but I figured I would pick the brains of all my fellow forum members before I ruin a perfectly good puller. Anybody had any experience with these old Buick steering wheels? Here's a picture of what the mounting plate looks like and also a picture of what our harmonic balancer rig looked like.

Edited December 3, 2011 by shadetree77 (see edit history)

[Dandy Dave]

Are you using at least a grade 5 bolt? The harmonic balance puller looks like it will work, but not with grade 3 bolts. Grade 8 would be best. Also, did you tap the hex end of the puller with a hammer as you put pressure on it? Dandy Dave!

[Guest shadetree77]

I couldn't find any high grade bolts that were long enough and still had a head small enough to fit in the holes on the plate. I checked home depot(which is pretty much all there is around here) and they do have plenty of high grade bolts, just none with the right size head. None of the auto parts stores had any bolts long enough. We gave it a few raps with a rubber mallet before we started pulling, but not during. We'll have to try that if we manage to find some long high grade bolts with small heads somewhere.

[Dandy Dave]

You should loosen the wheel nut enough for the wheel to pop loose, but not take it all the way off until the wheel pops loose. A rubber hammer is not going to do much for you. You need to pop it with a solid hammer to send vibrations down though it. Dandy Dave!

Edited December 3, 2011 by Dandy Dave (see edit history)

[Guest shadetree77]

We did loosen the nut enough to create a gap between it and the wheel. Just enough to keep the wheel from flying off when it pops loose. If we can find some bolts the right size today, we'll definitely try the hammer. Thanks for the responses Dave.

[Ben Bruce aka First Born]

Perhaps grind two sides down on the heads on larger bolts, just enough to fit through the slots??

Ben

[Barney Eaton]

A little penetrating oil may help also.

While only one post mentioned it, tapping or hitting it with a hammer needs to be defined.

You are not hitting the plastic........ when you get the puller in place, tighten the center screw as tight as possible without destorting any part of the steering wheel.

At that point, hit the end of the center screw (bolt) sharply with a hammer.

This action transfers the shock down the bolt and steering shaft and is very helpful in breaking the wheel loose.

If one sharp hit does not break it loose, put another 1/4 - 1/2 turn on the center screw and then hit the center screw again.

[pirate]

Maked certain the "pull" is absolutely straight. All bolts have to be of even length. If one bolt makes the puller go off to one side it will put a strain on the pull and holding the wheel to the shaft.

[Guest shadetree77]

Finally got it. I'll post more about it in the Me and My Buick Section. Thanks for the suggestions guys. They really helped.