I have an old steering wheel restoration book somewhere around the house
that I got from TRF many years ago. The author had restored many steering
wheels and gave a lot of hints and pictures in the book (really a large
color phamphlet). Anyway he used PC-7 epoxy, a polyester primer and then
painted his wheels. They all looked great. He said to V groove the cracks
first then fill them, sand, primer and paint.
Pete
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-triumphs@autox.team.net
[mailto:owner-triumphs@autox.team.net]On Behalf Of Randall
Sent: Sunday, April 03, 2005 12:05 PM
To: Francis P. Gowash; Triumph TR3A
Subject: RE: TR3A Steering Wheel Repair
> My cars steering wheel has two cracks going all the way through the
> material. These are approximately 180 degrees apart. Does this in any way
> provide a concern? If anyone has a process for repair of these cracks
please
> let me know.
The plastic is non-structural, so cracks are only a concern in that they may
allow (or indicate) rust on the underlying steel.
Some people have reported good luck filling the cracks with epoxy putty (eg
JB
Weld) and filing and sanding back to shape; but I just put a leather cover
over
mine, cracks and all. I really like the cover (originally from Moss, don't
know
if they still sell the same thing) and will be putting one on my 'new' TR3
even
though I sourced a nearly-perfect original steering wheel on eBay for it.
FWIW, Kas Kastner says wooden steering wheels were outlawed in the West
coast
racing clubs, after an accident where a Morgan's steering wheel splintered.
Might be something to think about, if you're tempted by an aftermarket
wooden
wheel.
Randall
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