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Mark Evans 
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Joined: April 21, 2004
Posts: 1931
Location: Alsea,Oregon
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 Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 6:52 am Post subject: Small Splined Oval Steering Wheel? |
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I was going through some parts over the weekend and found a couple of '56-'59 steering wheels. I looked closer and noticed that two of them are small splined hubs and are original. They do fit on the large splined shafts but made me wonder?? What were these for? Same part # as the large splined wheel.
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'63 Ragtop |
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john7
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Joined: August 06, 2003
Posts: 1542
Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| i have seen them too but dont know anymore about them than you do |
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Mark Evans
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Joined: April 21, 2004
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Location: Alsea,Oregon
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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They seem to fit on the large splined column o.k., the only noticable difference is they have the turn signal cancelling tab.
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'63 Ragtop
Last edited by Mark Evans on Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:23 am; edited 1 time in total |
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RareAir
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| Posted: Mon Dec 26, 2005 9:22 pm Post subject: |
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In October 1956, begining with chassis # 1 320 179 the steering column spline found inside the hub of the steering wheel was changed from 24 to 48 teeth. The exception to this change was the standard sedan. Standard sedans realised the change as of June 1957, chassis # 1 568 040
What is unique about this change was the the actual column itself where the steering wheel slides unto, was never changed. It remained with the course-splined 24 tooth. |
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Mark Evans
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Location: Alsea,Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:26 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the specific info! Are there any bad points of these wheels vs. the large splined wheels, or are the "early" wheels more desirable?
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RareAir
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 7:40 am Post subject: |
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| I don't think there would be any "bad points" to the early vs late debate. When VW made a change, it was usually for the better. The only difference I can see would be to have more adjustment on the wheel to get it to sit straight after it was installed. |
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Brezelwerks
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Joined: March 17, 2003
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 10:41 am Post subject: |
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Exactly, the additional splines were added for improved ablility to center the wheel horizontally. Its just a bothersome sensation when driving straight down a road when the batwings appear tilted at all.
The only drawback today is that later wheels with the additional splines/grooves tend to get damaged up a bit from all kinds of things, and I've actually not used wheels for this reason. I'm a bigger fan of the matching spline early steering wheels for this reason, and I just play with recentering the wheel the tooth alignment until its best I can make it.
I remember doing this on my 56 by driving down the straight backroads with even no nut on the wheel to hold it on the steering column! Would drive straight, come to a stop at an intersection, pull off the wheel, shift it over one or two, push the steering wheel back on, drive again and try it, do it again. Finally when I got it best I could I'd put the nut on by hand, then drive home, tighten it with the socket, put the horn button in. This is one of those funny restoration things one does.
Gary |
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john7
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Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Evans wrote: |
| They seem to fit on the large splined column o.k., the only noticable difference is they have the turn signal cancelling tab. |
the canceling ring comes off with 2 small screws |
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john7
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Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject: |
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| RareAir wrote: |
In October 1956, begining with chassis # 1 320 179 the steering column spline found inside the hub of the steering wheel was changed from 24 to 48 teeth. The exception to this change was the standard sedan. Standard sedans realised the change as of June 1957, chassis # 1 568 040
What is unique about this change was the the actual column itself where the steering wheel slides unto, was never changed. It remained with the course-splined 24 tooth. |
then why are the aftermarket wheel adapters for 49-59, 60-70, 71-73, 74-79?
also i have owned 2 59's both deluxe ragtop cars with big splines
my 56 rag is big spline, my 58 is big spline no ragtop but a deluxe car |
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Mark Evans
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Location: Alsea,Oregon
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:25 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, the canceling tab is part of the center hub, no screws are visible.
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Pennywise
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| Posted: Tue Dec 27, 2005 9:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Evans wrote: |
| Actually, the canceling tab is part of the center hub, no screws are visible. |
You made me look at mine and I happen to have one of each. The cancelling tab is indeed connected by two standard screws. The one I have without the tab has two threaded countersunk holes to accept the screws to attach the cancelling tab. Clean out some of the gunk up around the hub and you should see the screws. |
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bill may
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Mark Evans
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Location: Alsea,Oregon
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject: |
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Ah, yes. Under the goo was the screws. 
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Pennywise
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Evans wrote: |
| Ah, yes. Under the goo was the screws. |
Yep, the goo always covers the screws. Or the screws are always in the goo.  |
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RareAir
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Location: 18 miles North of the border
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| john7 wrote: |
| RareAir wrote: |
| What is unique about this change was the the actual column itself where the steering wheel slides unto, was never changed. It remained with the course-splined 24 tooth. |
then why are the aftermarket wheel adapters for 49-59, 60-70, 71-73, 74-79? |
This discussion is only regarding Pre '59 steering columns. As you stated, wheel adapters are available for 1949-59. In 1960, VW changed the steering column, tube & steering wheel completely. |
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john7
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Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Mark Evans wrote: |
| Actually, the canceling tab is part of the center hub, no screws are visible. |
mine came off with 2 flathead counter sunk screws
i could take a pic |
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john7
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Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Pennywise wrote: |
| Mark Evans wrote: |
| Ah, yes. Under the goo was the screws. |
Yep, the goo always covers the screws. Or the screws are always in the goo. |
yes there is always goo on our early cars |
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john7
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Location: Garden grove ca
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| Posted: Wed Dec 28, 2005 11:53 pm Post subject: |
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| RareAir wrote: |
| john7 wrote: |
| RareAir wrote: |
| What is unique about this change was the the actual column itself where the steering wheel slides unto, was never changed. It remained with the course-splined 24 tooth. |
then why are the aftermarket wheel adapters for 49-59, 60-70, 71-73, 74-79? |
This discussion is only regarding Pre '59 steering columns. As you stated, wheel adapters are available for 1949-59. In 1960, VW changed the steering column, tube & steering wheel completely. |
duh, i just posted the year groups for refernece.
the small splines didnt start until 60 thats why there is a 49-59 adapter (big splines) and 60 and later (small splines) |
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RareAir
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| Posted: Thu Dec 29, 2005 12:24 am Post subject: |
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| john7 wrote: |
| the small splines didnt start until 60 thats why there is a 49-59 adapter (big splines) and 60 and later (small splines) |
Do you even know what the original topic of discussion is? VW changed the center hub of the 1956-59 steering wheel with a 48 tooth spline in Oct '56. The column itself remained 24 tooth. We're not discussing big spline vs. small spline. The discission is about course spine (24 tooth) versus the fine spline (48 tooth) |
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ngobet
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Location: Switzerland / California
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| Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2014 1:32 am Post subject: |
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This is a very interesting topic. Which turnsignal switch did the cars from chassis # 1 320 179 use?
This one:
or this one:
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