removing "butterfly" horn ring

[big_al]

Hey folks,
Okay, I give. How does this thing come off the steering wheel?

Any advice would be much appreciated,
al

[HarryD]

Al,

Grab the butteryfly and turn while holding the steering wheel with your knees. It goes on like an oil (or is it a 710?) cap. About 1/8 or 1/4 of a turn is all you need.

Once it is off, you will see a 27 mm nut that holds the wheel to the steering shaft.

When you remove the steering wheel, there will be a spring and a smallish bushing on the shaft of the wheel where it meets the spline. Do not loose these as they are what keeps the steering wheel from wobbling.

A search here or at pelican (I forget which) will turn up a picture of the parts.

[Scott Clarke]

Al-
1. Disconnect battery or remove fuse.
2. Push firmly in on horn button and rotate counter clockwise.

They can be a bit snug.

Good luck,
-Scott

[HarryD]

Al-
1. Disconnect battery or remove fuse.
2. Push firmly in on horn button and rotate counter clockwise.

They can be a bit snug.

Good luck,
-Scott

Doh! Thanks Scott! I have done it so many times I forget about the slight pressure to get it to release.

Remember: Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey

[HarryD]

Big Al,

A few more notes of info:

1-Be sure you are holding the steering wheel firmly when you go to remove the nut. It can be very expensive to use your steering column lock as the holder (replacing a broken column lock is expensive and a PITA). To be safe, be sure the column is unlocked before you proceed.

2-Below are pictures of the spring and bushing and how they look when they are on the column.

[70SATMan]

Harry,

I think your bushing and spring are mounted backwards? I thought the bushing ring is supposed to be up against the steering wheel hub (bottom in your picture) and the spring fits over it with the resulting friction keeping the spring in place. Time to check the parts manual.... Again.

[andyjboy]

Michael - Harry's picture is correct - the bushing fits into the top end of the steering column housing.

[70SATMan]

Thanks Harry, Andy!

No wonder my wheel was wobbly then! Mine was mounted backwards when I took my wheel off. Shouldn't be surprised. The nut looked like someone tried to take it off previously with a set of channel locks!..

I'll save Harry's pic in my database for when I put my wheel back on.

Thanks guys!

[HarryD]

Harry,

I think your bushing and spring are mounted backwards? I thought the bushing ring is supposed to be up against the steering wheel hub (bottom in your picture) and the spring fits over it with the resulting friction keeping the spring in place. Time to check the parts manual.... Again.

Michael,

I have installed the spring and bushing every possible way.

The picture is the ONLY correct way. If you flip the bushing or swap the bushing and spring, the sterring wheel WILL wobble.

At Pelican there is a post by a fellow who used a pop can bottom to make a bushing. You might want to try that if you lose the correct part.