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bartts Samba Member

Joined: March 08, 2007 Posts: 162 Location: Loxahatchee, Florida
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Posted: Sun May 20, 2007 6:40 pm Post subject: Steering wheel restoration |
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I am having a heck of a time finding a "like new" steering wheel for my 1972 Super Beetle.
I have the orginal one, and can get the horn insert, but the wheel itself has multiple cracks and seperations.
Anyone know of a company which will restore a steering wheel? Contact info?
Thanks!
Bart in Florida |
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Zacharysayre Samba Member

Joined: July 03, 2004 Posts: 589 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona
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BUGGED11111 Samba Member

Joined: February 03, 2006 Posts: 1828 Location: Oregon
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jhicken Samba Member

Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9479 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:09 am Post subject: |
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I don't think Koch restores the later style wheels and same goes for the POR15 offerings. I'm not sure of the year interchangability but you probably would be able to find a decent replacement cheap from a wrecking yard. If you can't find anything local, go on-line. There are alot of wrecking yards listed and a phone call and some shipping should satisfy yer need.
-jeffrey _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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MattBon Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 120 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:38 am Post subject: |
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I could have sworn that I saved a write up about how to fix a steering wheel for the later models. I was planning on doing that for my 73's wheel. In fact, I found the bondo and high gloss paint this weekend in my shed.
How bad are the cracks ? One intermediate step would be to find another damaged wheel and try your hands at fixing it. |
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Cusser Samba Member

Joined: October 02, 2006 Posts: 33054 Location: Hot Arizona
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jhicken Samba Member

Joined: October 24, 2003 Posts: 9479 Location: Fallbrook, CA
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 5:53 am Post subject: |
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Are the articles about restoring the early smooth steering wheels or the later textued vinyl coverd wheels?
-jeffrey _________________ Der Kleiner Kampfwagens |
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NOVA Airhead Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2005 Posts: 5225 Location: Richmond, VA
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Gary Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002 Posts: 17069 Location: 127.0.0.1
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:01 am Post subject: |
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The above mentioned POR15 kit costs almost twice the price of the Eastwood kit, but comes with:
POR15 wrote: |
Here at last, the POR-15® STEERING WHEEL REPAIR KIT will enable anyone to restore a steering wheel to show-quality condition. Our step-by-step instructions were written by leading experts in steering wheel repair. You will find the techniques you learn here useful in restoring other hard-to-repair items as well. Restore dash knobs, gear shift knobs, radio buttons, and other hard rubber, bakelite, or other plastic interior parts.
The Steering Wheel Restoration Kit is a must in restoring your old steering wheel to show-quality condition!
Kit Contains:
* POR Epoxy Putty
* Marine-Clean Spray Cleaner
* Contoured Sanding Block
* Steering Wheel Sanding Board
* Red (360-400 grade) Scuff Pad
* Gray (600-800 grade) Scuff Pad
* Sandpaper
* Surgical Latex Gloves
* Supertack Cloth
* Polyester Primer and Surfacer w/Hardener
* Spray Bottle/Cartridge for Primer & Enamel
* High Gloss Polishing Compound
* Saw, File, and Drill Bit
* Detailed, Illustrated Instruction Book |
While the Eastwood kit comes with:
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Master Steering Wheel Repair Kit W/Instruc
Repair Plastic and Hard Rubber Steering Wheels - The ravages of time and UV light conspire to deplete your steering wheel of it's elastomers. The resultant cracks can be repaired with one of our money saving kits. Use this Master Steering Wheel Restoration Kit with 1 lb of PC-7 Epoxy (52047), an aerosol can of PRE Painting Prep (10041Z), an aerosol can of Adhesion Promotor (52366Z), instructions and a copy of the Steering Wheel Restoration Book (52017) to repair cracked wheels and ready them for the color top coat. The SEM Vinyl Dyes (52066z-52081Z) work great over this kit. |
The POR15 kit looks like the winner to me. _________________ West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) |
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NOVA Airhead Samba Member

Joined: July 20, 2005 Posts: 5225 Location: Richmond, VA
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:15 am Post subject: |
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Depends if you need a saw, file, drill bit etc.
Most people already have this stuff.
I have used PC-7 on my own (no kit) to fix cracks in wheels and then painted with good reults. Its another, cheaper way to go if you don't want to use a kit. _________________ Ghia Owner Emeritus |
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Gary Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002 Posts: 17069 Location: 127.0.0.1
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:44 am Post subject: |
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NOVA Airhead wrote: |
Depends if you need a saw, file, drill bit etc.
Most people already have this stuff.
I have used PC-7 on my own (no kit) to fix cracks in wheels and then painted with good reults. Its another, cheaper way to go if you don't want to use a kit. |
I agree, but extra tools always come in handy and most people here tend to be noobs with little in the way of a tool stash. _________________ West Virginia State Board of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943) |
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MattBon Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005 Posts: 120 Location: Tucson, AZ
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 7:55 am Post subject: |
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jhicken wrote: |
Are the articles about restoring the early smooth steering wheels or the later textued vinyl coverd wheels?
-jeffrey |
Early style smooth wheels, I think since the write up was based on one of those articles. |
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INdriver Samba Member
Joined: November 10, 2006 Posts: 13
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Posted: Mon May 21, 2007 10:25 am Post subject: Rip-Off Kit |
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Saw the kit at a show. It's a rip-off!! Their "sanding Board" is a piece of garden hose. The other items come out to be about $25 worth of stuff you'll find in your garage. |
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jmsmilin Samba's Most Posted

Joined: November 10, 2005 Posts: 3302 Location: Out on Pa-troll.
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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whats the factory color of the 58-59 steering wheels? _________________ Der Schmutzige Süden.
(o\ ! /o) | o \/ o | (o)=|=(o) [o\|_|_|/o] \m/ |
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Drew0890 Samba Member
Joined: January 22, 2008 Posts: 106
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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If it is like the steering wheel in my '79 super, you can buy a "wheelskin"...a leather wrap that you hand stitch around the damaged one. It is available at mid america motorworks or at a local parts house such as O'rielly's |
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bmoehring Samba Member
Joined: March 26, 2005 Posts: 204 Location: Pinckney, MI
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Posted: Tue Jun 17, 2008 6:08 pm Post subject: |
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I used PC-7 too, on an earlier wheel, 1970 style. Worked fine for me. Used sandable primer, that seemed to help the finish.
I also used my Dremel on the cracks, ground them out a little, cleaned them up that way before filling. _________________ 73 sedan
72 Westy non pop-up |
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