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"New" steering wheels?

rbrown1961

rbrown1961

Gold Level Sponsor
Anyone have a source for Tiger steering wheels? Mine's in pretty rough shape.
 

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Given enough money, I guess anything is restorable...
However, the hub is pretty jacked up, as seen in the photo. I'd like to see if I can find a new one that is faithful.
 
I do have the steering wheel hub repair kits for sale here and on eBay. The steering wheels are being made in Florida by Mike Ruckman now-he will take your old wood or plastic wheel and put new wood on it as original and I supply the center hub kits. https://www.britishcarinteriors.com/index.php
I will have one of his steering wheels and our hub repair kits at the TE/AE United in Charlotte later this month.
 
Eris's. ( @65sunbeam ) hub repair kits are an improvement on the original bakerlite ones, I've seen photos of Mikes repro wheels and they look good in the photos.

If your wood isn't missing pieces there are many online articles on the sunbeam sites if how to take off and refinish the timber and black inlays and glue them back together.

Also your profile photo has 2 Sunbeams, are you a member of any of the Tiger clubs/groups?
 
alpine_64 said:
Eris's. ( @65sunbeam ) hub repair kits are an improvement on the original bakerlite ones, I've seen photos of Mikes repro wheels and they look good in the photos.

If your wood isn't missing pieces there are many online articles on the sunbeam sites if how to take off and refinish the timber and black inlays and glue them back together.

Also your profile photo has 2 Sunbeams, are you a member of any of the Tiger clubs/groups?
Click to expand...
Yeah, pretty much all of them! I have 2 66's. One fully restored, and the other a work-in-progress...
 
I just replaced my steering wheel hub on my series V . The kit is outstanding- straight forward to install and Eric was all set to provide answers to my questions.
 
Acollin said:
I just replaced my steering wheel hub on my series V . The kit is outstanding- straight forward to install and Eric was all set to provide answers to my questions.
Click to expand...
Thanks! Your Tiger is the same color as the one I'm restoring.
 
It'd be interesting to discuss finish as the wheels came from the factory. I've owned a original wheel on the MK2 . It had the $2.99 vinyl cover Pep Boy's auto parts store. The wooden wheel hadn't seen the light of day, except thru the holes. The original finish had a semi transparent not clear varnish effect. The finish was light enough to visibly pick out the grain. I've noted a few other's over the years and they're not your typical yachtie bristol finish clear..
Naturally I prefer the latter and only look at stock cars and since the MK2 is gone don't own one anymore. My wheel is the best one I could find and now hanging in my garage. 1968 FMVSS killed metal on horn rings and I've converted to a Nardi. I really do like the original style even as hanging automobilia.

I would recommend Eric's hub replacement.
 
Warren said:
It'd be interesting to discuss finish as the wheels came from the factory. I've owned a original wheel on the MK2 . It had the $2.99 vinyl cover Pep Boy's auto parts store. The wooden wheel hadn't seen the light of day, except thru the holes. The original finish had a semi transparent not clear varnish effect. The finish was light enough to visibly pick out the grain. I've noted a few other's over the years and they're not your typical yachtie bristol finish clear..
Naturally I prefer the latter and only look at stock cars and since the MK2 is gone don't own one anymore. My wheel is the best one I could find and now hanging in my garage. 1968 FMVSS killed metal on horn rings and I've converted to a Nardi. I really do like the original style even as hanging automobilia.

I would recommend Eric's hub replacement.
Click to expand...
Mine also had a decades-old leather cover, which I just removed. The varnish had fused to the leather and was in bad shape. See photo above.
 
rbrown1961 said:
Mine also had a decades-old leather cover, which I just removed. The varnish had fused to the leather and was in bad shape. See photo above.
Click to expand...
I looked at your pictures and that finish looks somewhat lighter than the semi transparent look. Spent way too much time on boat woodwork to ignore the finish of a nice dash and steering wheel. The products change especially now that they are making everything water based and really expensive. I used to cull old dock boxes after guys moved for the old good stuff...
Yeah I'm that guy who shouldn't leave the house on big trash day :)
 
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