C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

[Mark H.]

The turn signal stalk on my '64 is coming loose, so I thought I would spend an hour or so and tighten it up. Ha! Easy enough to remove the horn button, wheel and nut and washer. Installed my steering wheel puller and it seems to be frozen solid. it won't budge. I've soaked in penetrant several times, left the puller under tension over night and tapped it with a hammer to no avail. Not budging, 2 days later. Am I missing a locking piece somewhere? I don't see one mentioned in the shop manual or shown in the A.I.M. Thanks.

[Edward J.]

[Mark H.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Thanks. I started with a harmonic balancer puller but mine is just a little too large - the two bolts that go into the hub won't line up. I'm using this steering wheel puller

puller (2).jpg

[Edward J.]

[Mark H.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

I think that's a function of the housing threads - when the bolts are screwed in all the way, they are not perfectly parallel.

puller bolts (2).jpg

[Edward J.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Mark, I see that the bolts are tilted slightly, try tightening the bolts with the point tip centered as close as possible.there’s no other tricks, I have been in the auto business for 40 years and cannot say I have seen one that was so tight it would not remove the hub. I know I have had some that require more pressure, can you try some slightly shorter bolts the one your using maybe a bit long.

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Try hawing a heat gun all around the hub

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Hate this auto spelling. Try using a heat gun to heat the hub

[Frank D.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

If you just need to tighten up the turn signal "stalk" there is a flat spot on it you can put blue tape on and use pliers or the like to tighten it up sufficiently. Unless something is going on with the interanls.

[Joseph S.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Mark, If you can't get the hub off. Remove the bolt from your steering coupler, loosen the small clamp on your lower shaft and pull the hub and shaft together. Tighten your directional lever then slide the shaft back into place and re-tighten everything.

Joe

[Mark H.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Frank and Joe thanks for these suggestions. If it hasn’t come loose by the weekend (left it under tension) I will give those a try.

Mark

[Gerard F.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Mark,

Take a look at this thread of some years ago of my change the signal switch on my 67 and without using a steering wheel puller:
How this for a Touring Car (ncrs.org)
See post 10 of the thread

Leave the steering wheel on. Loosen the nut that holds the coupler on the shaft, bring it to the top of the shaft slightly above the threads. Then have someone wack the nut with a hammer while you rock and pull on the steering wheel.

Worked for me at a Lake Tahoe NCRS event on my 67 when I didn't have a puller

[Bill M.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Heat up the hub with a heat gun. Heat loosens everything

[Mark H.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

Joe's suggestion wins the day. Loosening the bolts i was able to pull the shaft out just enough to tighten the turn signal lever without removing the shaft from the rag joint. Final question - my copy of the AIM is very hard to read. Can anyone verify the torque value for the bolt on the firewall side of the rag joint (where the shaft is inserted)? Best I can tell it's 35 ft-lbs, but hoping to verify. Thanks.

PS - I tried heat first, but it started smoking out the back of the hub assembly, so shifted to plan B.

Mark

[Norm B.]

Re: C2 Cannot Remove Steering Wheel/Turn Signal Housing

If it's Bolt 5 (Part # 5686553) on Page C170 you are asking about my AIM shows 25-35 lbs. ft. of torque.