Steering wheel puller - no longer needed

[70bus]

EDIT - no bearing puller had quite the reach. Whanging on shaft and lifting did not budge it. What worked? Taking my giant 34mm wrench, wrapping it in cloth, putting it at bottom of steering wheel and pounding upwards. Love taps didn't do it; 3 or 4 (bigger than I was happy with) whacks did.

Thanks to all who offered advice or a tool. Still want to buy one for next time...





Long shot - anybody in Portland area have an actual steering wheel puller to rent or borrow (hell, buy!). Auto shops I've called all carry 'threaded hole' version and that's it.

Not able to weld up my own contraption.

I have a prettty nice wheel and would rather not risk whanging on it.

PM me.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Glenn]

I find loosening the nut, but leave it on with a few threads. Then grab a 10 and 2.and wiggle. It usually comes off.
_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[rag63]

I have a gear puller set you can try. There is a YouTube video of a guy using one to pull a steering wheel off a Bus.
I’m in SE PDX.

Dave

[70bus]

Yes, I have tried the grab and wiggle, hit center shaft and lift with knees, and hit from below with rubber mallet techniques. I really don't want to have to replace it, so was hoping to find a proper tool. Which at least 2 places told me never existed, and factory said to hit with hammer.

Gonna try a heat gun on it for differential expansion, then a big bearing puller a local garage offered.

Sure wish Joey still made his Matra copy...

This is why I am a big "bought it and never needed it" guy vs. "need it and can't find one!" Sadly, someone at Woodburn probably had something, but it was the drive home FROM Woodburn that convinced me the steering box needs to come out.
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[KTPhil]

Combo is under $60.

https://www.harborfreight.com/bearing-separator-wi...DqEALw_wcB

https://www.harborfreight.com/8-in-3-jaw-gear-pull...IwEALw_wcB
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Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[thom]

There used to be a guy on here making a bus steering wheel puller, but I can't find the ad; maybe he quit. I bought one even though I didn't need it at the time, but I'm glad I did. (buy a plunger before you need a plunger)

This one is in the classifieds right now

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=2398104

_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type

[thom]

Here's the old ad - this was a screaming deal https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=478847
_________________
-Thom
1956 Single Cab
1957 Porsche 356A Sunroof
1957 23-Window Deluxe
1957 Mercedes Westfalia single cab
1963 Unimog 404
1965 E-Type

[KTPhil]

The trick is supporting the flange under the steering wheel hub. The turn signal switch will have to be loosened and slid down first. There is always risk of cracking the wheel bakelite. On reassembly, I put a little anti-seize on the splines, but fully tighten the nut. I still sweat breaking it!
_________________
Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[70bus]

I did see the one for sale - price was high, but mainly shipping time was an issue. And HF is a crapshoot; for every tool that is a great deal, 10 are going to break and ossibly hurt car or you. YMMV, but that's my experience. For 60 I may get that combo and see if it works or looks as likely to crack plastic as hitting the wrench!

I had antiseize on it, and it was only on a year... that little nut really puts the pressure on!
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[pondoras box]

Get one of these and use it with your favorite long reach puller, I like the Mac version as it has a bar that keeps the puller arms from separating and popping off.

_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[ted698]

I managed to remove mine without a puller, undo the nut and leave it on the last few threads (so it doesn't smack you in the face when it breaks free!)

Bung up the holes in the cast alloy wheel boss and steering column with blu-tack/plasticine.

Boil a Kettle full of hot water and fill the boss/and keep dribbling boiling water into the wheel boss, whilst pulling up, rattling, wobbling as much as possible on the wheel - the heat of the boiling water sitting inside the wheel will expand the wheel boss and help break the taper (hopefully!!)

[pondoras box]

Sounds like the recipe for boiled nuts!
_________________
Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.

1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
1965 13 Window (Lucas)
1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop
1988 Cabriolet VR6 conversion
Plus a lot of other rusty junk

[c21darrel]

I bought two large 3 1/2 washes and cut each one the width of the steering post, slide them on, rotated them so the slots did not match up and then used a standard gear puller. So instead of yanking on the wheel, the gear puller pulls on the washers and off she comes. Cheap easy and no damage.
Like this...
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=310527
_________________
GhiaBuild
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=481184
1967 DC build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=693583&highlight=67+dc
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!

[KTPhil]

My local hardware stores failed me on the big washers, but that is the right solution if you can find them! That's how I ended up at HF.
_________________
Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[c21darrel]

[Long-roofs]

Been using this home made one for decades, works great.

_________________
---
People are talking, the greatness is coming, going to be greater than great, so great, greater than anything ever.

--

[Who.Me?]

Scared the shit out of me when mine broke loose using the puller and washer method.

Came damned close to busting the windscreen when the puller went flying. If I have to do that again, I'm putting a cushion or blanket up against the screen.
_________________
Andy


Looking for info on my truck's history. Are you from Campbell California or nearby. Do you recognise it? ... http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=636786

[KTPhil]

[70bus]

Thanks for all the tips; I'll likely try cobbling together something like long-roof's' 'Matra 666' tool; didn't have time to gather materials, tools, and ability the other day.

Care to post some more pics of that contraption?
_________________
Craig K
70 Neunsitzer
65 Pritschenwagen
"If Von Dutch was alive, he'd walk in there with a pistol and shoot these people." - Robert Williams

Raul the 65 singlecab

Karl the 70 nine-seater

[Who.Me?]