Re: Gtv-6 steering wheel removal HELP!!!!!!!!

["David R Johnson" <johnsnd@domain.elided>]

On Jul 21,  8:29pm, Giuseppe wrote:

>    I'm removing the steering wheel off my car,I'm having trouble pulling the
> wheel off the stem.i don't have the exact alfa tool,I using a gear puller.The
> wheel is on so tight that when I  use the puller it's actually bending the
> steering wheel.
> Any tips or tools,suggestions??
> thank you in advance

I had similar difficulty pulling the wheel of my GTV-6.  I used a steering
wheel puller bought from Sears.  It did not contain thin enough bolts to fit
the holes in the wheel, so I had to buy some. You need metric ones, but I don't
recall the exact diameter.  Could probably figure it out again if you need to
know.

Unfortunately, my wheel was on so tight that I suceeded in tearing the threads
out of the tapped holes.  My solution was to drill out and tap the holes for
substantially larger bolts which were included with the puller kit.  This
worked for me, although I still had to modify the part of the puller that
pushes against the stem so it didn't slip off.

I subsequently received advice that I should have hammered on the wheel spokes
with a big mallet while the puller was in place.  I did try that technique a
little, but I found it hard to get any real force on it without having the
puller slip off.  I was also concerned about damaging the wheel spokes.
 Another possibility is to try heating the joint, but you have that plastic
cover section on there which could easily be damaged.

So I don't know if I have really answered your question.  The wheel can
certainly be very hard to remove.  I would not persist with the gear puller,
since I think you are risking damage to the wheel.  Try to find the best
steering wheel puller you can find after looking closely at how they work and
what the GTV-6 components look like.  Then make sure you get it on there
securely so it won't slide off when you apply the large amount of force needed
(modify the puller if necessary), and try to persuade it with a heavy mallet
and preferably put a block of wood in the way to avoid damaging the wheel.
 Eventually it should come off.  Oh, and of course don't forget to leave the
retaining nut on the stem a few turns so it doesn't knock your head off when it
does come loose!  (You did undo the nut first, right?!).

Hope this helps,

Dave J.
1982 GTV-6 (stripped for restoration)


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