Steering wheel won’t pull off

[MattL]

I have an E21 sport steering wheel installed on my 76. Since I installed it a couple years ago it’s had a very slight lateral wobble that I attributed to a missing washer or something keeping it from seating fully. In any case, I tried today to take the wheel off to address the issue. The nut came off fine, but I can not get the wheel to budge off the splines. I’m worried I may have over tightened the nut when I installed it, or somehow fouled the splines. Any tips? 

['76mintgrün'02]

Have you tried adding a few drops of penetrating oil, such as PB Blaster?

 

You could put the nut back on to protect the threads/shaft end and tap that with a hammer, while pulling on the wheel.  Sometimes a little shock is all it takes to break things free.

[MattL]

I haven’t tried penetrating oil yet, no. Same with the re-nut and whack. I’ll give those a shot. Thanks. 

[Son of Marty]

Try locking the steering column, then rapidly twisting the wheel back and forth while pulling on it

[MattL]

Still no luck with the above suggestions. With the penetrating oil on, though, I can see that there is play in the splines. So, it’s not seized there. When I push the wheel forward and then pull back, it feels like there is a catch or clip or other diametrically-opposed barrier keeping it from detaching. I didn’t think there was anything to remove other than the nut. Is there something I’m forgetting? 

[Son of Marty]

There should be a washer also. It maybe cocking and catching on the threads.

[MattL]

I neglected to mention it, but I removed the washer with the nut. 

[adawil2002]

Use a rubber mallet to give a good old whack or two to from the back. Without the nut & washer it should pull off with a little effort, as you know.

[JWT]

....make sure the steering lock is not engaged or grabbing it.  (I think).

[Mike Self]

33 minutes ago, JWT said:

make sure the steering lock is not engaged or grabbing it.  (I think).

The steering column lock engages the shaft, not the wheel so it won't get in your way when you remove the wheel.  Don't have any additional suggestions from what's already been written.  Just keep at it.  There's probably a burr on one of the splines that's causing the wheel to catch, so keep pushing and pulling; the splines on the steering wheel are pot metal,and those on the shaft are steel, so one will eventually wear down the other.

 

mike

[MattL]

Thanks, all. I’m happy to hear that I just need to give it more gusto. I’ve broken enough stuff that “Don’t force it” is permanently etched into my psyche. 

[adawil2002]

As my brother & I say, "You've got to cuss it." swear at it & call it bad names, it will relent.

 

Keep us posted when the F'ing wheel has been successfully removed.

[AustrianVespaGuy]

Yeah after some oil on there I think a bit of good hearty side-to-side rocking motion while pulling will probably do the trick. Do be careful to not end up smashing yourself in the face when it finally lets go though! <- Says the guy who's done exactly that more than once with all of the later-style BMW shift knobs. . .

And once it IS off, you'll probably want to use a small 3-corner file to clean up the splines of both the wheel and the shaft wherever this annoying burr is/was to mitigate any further problems from it!

[stephers]

Put the nut back on with just a few threads, this will save your nose when it does finally come off       Hit each side of the outer most section of the wheel at 3 and 9 o clock  with the heel of your hand and then pull like a mother while still rocking it side to side     If it still won't come off, turn the nut around so the smooth backside of the nut (  9 not the locking part )  is flush with the end of the threads and then while you are pulling like crazy on the wheel, have someone with a hammer and something that you can use like a punch whack the nut and steering shaft.   Have someone that you can trust because your body is in the way and it hurts when they hit you instead of the wheel     That should pop it loose    

 

Thanks, Rick

[man_mark_7]

Good trick an old timer taught me was put the nut back on the shaft so its flush with the top thread. Put a pry bar under the rim of the wheel and onto the top of the nut/shaft. Pull up on the prybar and smack the part of the prybar resting on the nut with a hammer while maintaining upward force with the pry bar. It has worked like magic every time I have tried. Plus you don't need two people to do it.