Steering wheel, make your own?

[Hedgehog]

Has anyone made your own steering wheel? I really like the big stock steering wheel on the '75 CJ. But to be honest I'd like a 15 1/2" wheel made just like the stock wheel. I know making one yourself exactly like the stock item, but the thought of making one at home interests me. Yes, I know there are a bunch of factory made wheels out there................

 

[Lumpy Grits]

I would think broaching the correct spline, would be the biggest issue to overcome.
LG

 

[IOPort51]

you could use an original hub and cut the spokes . Weld/transition to a 15 1/2" wheel? I could see this happening.

 

[Hedgehog]

I'd start with a standard steering wheel adaptor. Have a shop with a water jet cut the basic shape, center spokes and rim, in steel or stainless steel

 

[Peanut Butter]

You could use some 3/4 inch rebarb for a wheel with some grip!

 

[CJim7]

You could use some 3/4 inch rebarb for a wheel with some grip!

I personally like chain welded at every link

 

[Hedgehog]

Never mind.......................... I deserve this for being a "frequent dumbass" poster.

 

[Petescj]

You could use some 3/4 inch rebarb for a wheel with some grip!

I personally like chain welded at every link

I look at these 2 posts as guys having a little fun with you.

 

[Petescj]

Never mind.......................... I deserve this for being a "frequent dumbass" poster.

This is different. And I'm getting tired of it. This is a perfect example of the pm I'm about to send you.

 

[ksouthw80]

Sometimes we have to have parts made for very old aircraft that parts are no longer available. Its amazing what machine shops can do these days. SOMETIMES its not as expensive as it may seem. Just a thought

 

[Hedgehog]

Peter - was some VERY bad days for me and that's all I'm going to say about that.

ksouth - Several things crossed my mind with starting this thread. There would be several skills needed to do this correctly. Metal working skills, wood working skills, possibly molding skills, having a company laser or water jet or plasma cut the middle metal section, so many possibilities. Along with discussion of technics I know nothing about. What I really want is nothing special, just an exact copy of the stock wheel, but with a smaller diameter. .... in the 15.5" area. On some hot rod or restoration shows they patch cracked wheels, I'm wondering how they do that.

 

[ksouthw80]

an original could be modified. taking equal sections out , welding, smoothing, polishing or chrome plating. the hardest part may be the ring. if its steel on the inside (which id think it would have to be for safety) then it could be precisely cut, heated and bent, then welded back together. as far as the rubber or whatever around the steel ring there are a few things i can think of that can be done. would be a cool project, maybe just a little time consuming laying it all out. i have seen companies that make factory looking wheels for vintage vehicles. ill try to find out the name. they are very expensive tho, in the $$$$

 

[Hedgehog]

I've looked at and even purchased a couple s-wheels. the ones I can afford always seem cheap to me.

I've been thinking that cutting, rebending and welding up an existing s-wheel could be done. It's filling the gaps that slows me down some.

I bet it would be expensive to have a custom wheel made. I'm a do it myself kind of guy, to a point that is. I'm also a draftsmen so designing the wheel would be right down my alley. I'm thinking 1/4" flat SS plate cut to my design with a water jet. The center spline would be taken care of with a universal jeep adaptor. The wheels bulk would be a very dark wood like African black wood glued and sparingly riveted to the SS rim. Problem, it would be expensive for just the wood let alone anything else.

 

[Peanut Butter]

HH, I'm sorry you've had a run of bad days. I've been there before with health issues that seemed insurmountable. My comment was only to instill some laughter. I've seen some really crazy steering wheels in my life.

The spokes could easily be cut on a CNC machine, if someone has one in your area. I think a solid wood handle or ring would be really cool. Finding the right wood is the trick here. I would suggest oak since it is hard and available. You would have to soak it in water for several days. From there you could bend it in a jig. Just make sure the piece you use is longer than you think you need. Once it dried you could sand it round, with finger grooves, or whatever you want. You could even route out the back side to put a metal ring in for strength. Or you could just epoxy the spokes in to the wood in a slot cut out.

Whatever you decided to do keep us informed.

 

[Hedgehog]

Thanks, I knew it was a joke. It just fell on a tin ear at the time. My internal timing has been all off for quite some time now and it's getting old for me. As I said before .... and that's all I've got to say about that.

Hmmm steaming and bending a one piece rim. Now that's what a forum is all about, never thought about doing a one piece rim before now.

 

[mriplaybass]

Peter - was some VERY bad days for me and that's all I'm going to say about that.

ksouth - Several things crossed my mind with starting this thread. There would be several skills needed to do this correctly. Metal working skills, wood working skills, possibly molding skills, having a company laser or water jet or plasma cut the middle metal section, so many possibilities. Along with discussion of technics I know nothing about. What I really want is nothing special, just an exact copy of the stock wheel, but with a smaller diameter. .... in the 15.5" area. On some hot rod or restoration shows they patch cracked wheels, I'm wondering how they do that.

Hedge,
I've thought about doing a steering wheel restoration myself on some of my yet to be started projects. The hot rod show you are thinking about is Gearz. Here is the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H99xrXNf9T4

 

[Peanut Butter]

Here is another U-Tube video where they made a wood wheel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l93...Dpv1yZ2vR6diX1t3XFBPpQGIIDe4JjML13QrFt3SynPRg

and another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mgM9wBKyU8

 

[Hedgehog]

I should have looked at youtube to begin with, it seems that everything is there in one form or another.

When talking about rebuilding an old wheel it always occurs to me that some sort of colored rubbery filler should be used. But that's foolish because now I know that steering wheels are painted and although a rubber type material they are hard as a rock. So, why not use a good filler?

The wood rims are also nice as long as they aren't to bulky in the hands. It seems that suddenly I've got about all the wood working tools needed to do the job correctly.

Easy enough done, cut the wheel off leaving the correct length spokes. Bend a ring using a piece of wood the right diameter. Weld it to the spokes and follow the youtube instructions to make a combo wood/molded rubber wheel.

 

[gr8dain]

Awesome. Can't wait to see the progress!

 

[Hedgehog]

This is in the thinking stage only. I usually ask questions and accumulate ideas long before starting a project. So, please don't hold your breath on this one, eventually, maybe, right now, no.....