How do I remove/change steering wheel on 1986 Spider?

FWIW...just removed the stock Personal steering wheel yesterday on my '77 Spider, to access the control stalks...it took a 27mm socket. Wheel came off with a bit of north-south then east-west persuasion...very easy, hardly worked up a sweat.
Would recommend anyone trying to change out or access the control stalks, don't do as I did and try to remove them with wheel in situ - what a pain ! So much easier to get off with wheel out of the way. From what I could tell, the wheel had never been off, was keyed in place.

I am partly into the job.

Have removed the horn push, and the horn assembly.

Am left with the wheel, a gaping hole, and a nut.

(My hub adaptor arrives tomorrow)


I know I'm being thick, but unless I remove the nut completely...how am I going to get the wheel off..??

You do have to remove the nut completely to remove the wheel but while you are pulling on the wheel you may prefer to leave the nut just on it's last thread so it doesn't fly off and whack you in the face when it finally lets go....

I had the same issue - removed the nut couldn't budge the wheel - took it to local Alfa specialist - nut off, wd40 and muscle while twisting the wheel. I was nearly crying but it came off - no tools just obvious experience required (as with many issues with Alfas)

Originally Posted by Lord Snooty

I am partly into the job.

Have removed the horn push, and the horn assembly.

Am left with the wheel, a gaping hole, and a nut.

(My hub adaptor arrives tomorrow)


I know I'm being thick, but unless I remove the nut completely...how am I going to get the wheel off..??

Er, yeah, the nut is simply left partly in place for YOUR safety (see how I think about my fellow Alfa owners ) as mentioned in post #19.
Whilst pulling and twisting on the wheel to make it let go of the column shaft it could suddenly let go and hit you in the face/teeth /head .

Originally Posted by Green Berlina

Er, yeah, the nut is simply left partly in place for YOUR safety (see how I think about my fellow Alfa owners ) as mentioned in post #19.
Whilst pulling and twisting on the wheel to make it let go of the column shaft it could suddenly let go and hit you in the face/teeth /head .

OK...understanding now

Thanks for thinking of me

I'm going to do the job this weekend thanks again.

So...I got the nut off (left it partly on)

What happens if, when pulling the wheel about, the wheel breaks of by its welded rivets, leaving the wheel in my hand and the framework of the wheel and hub attached ???

I give up

I have tried everything from oil, levers, hammers, I bought a steering wheel puller, and all it has done is mangled the framework of the old wheel.

The thing must be welded on...I have been going at it for nine hours solid, and it will not budge.

I'm screwed.

Originally Posted by Lord Snooty

I give up

I have tried everything from oil, levers, hammers, I bought a steering wheel puller, and all it has done is mangled the framework of the old wheel.

The thing must be welded on...I have been going at it for nine hours solid, and it will not budge.

I'm screwed.

Sorry to hear that,after 15 years with my '76 Spider I have come to this decision;make the problem someone else's!Take it to a good mechanic.

Yup...all I've gotta do is find some way of steering it...!!

Aaaaah , Dude, thats real bad news. Thats gotta be on seriously tight, possibly even over-tightened from a previous repair/removal .
Is Bunkerton Castle any where near Walsall? If it is then maybe I could offer some help or someone else could if they were nearer .

Originally Posted by Green Berlina

Aaaaah , Dude, thats real bad news. Thats gotta be on seriously tight, possibly even over-tightened from a previous repair/removal .
Is Bunkerton Castle any where near Walsall? If it is then maybe I could offer some help or someone else could if they were nearer .

Thanks, GB. Unfortunately Bunkerton is near Cambridge!

I tried heating it last night, to expand the joint, plus pumped in some PlusGas to try to free it.

I have a mechanic mate coming on Thursday to have a look.

Can't believe this job is taking this much effort might have to end up cutting it off

Thanks for your help, anywho

Sounds like a happy evening with a hacksaw could be on the cards. Alternatively, maybe a drill down the side of the thread may be easier and might just relieve enough tension to allow it to loosen.

Have you thought about adding another steering column in place of the idler? That way, you could steer the car from either side, thus enabling you to take it somewhere to be sorted. As a bonus, the car would then be ideal for continental holidays because you could steer from the left or the right..............

Of course, the final straw when all this is sorted will be when Lady Snooty sits back and declares that she preferred the old one!

Originally Posted by andyt

Sounds like a happy evening with a hacksaw could be on the cards. Alternatively, maybe a drill down the side of the thread may be easier and might just relieve enough tension to allow it to loosen.

Have you thought about adding another steering column in place of the idler? That way, you could steer the car from either side, thus enabling you to take it somewhere to be sorted. As a bonus, the car would then be ideal for continental holidays because you could steer from the left or the right..............

Of course, the final straw when all this is sorted will be when Lady Snooty sits back and declares that she preferred the old one!

saws and drills might have to come into play at this rate...

Lady Snooty doesn't have a say, thankfully

Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeesssssssssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



GOT IT !

There were two holes in the hub, either side of the central spline, and with suitable bolts through these holes connected to the puller........BANG ! as the ******* thing came off.

I can't believe how long that's took me...but thanks to all for your help.


Now all I've got to do is wire in the horn.

Well done!!!!

Fanks!

Congrats!

Aaaahhh, Everyone loves a thread with a happy ending. Well done!!!