Steering wheel removal

pacosperson · Mar 15, 2009

Does anyone know exactly how to pull the steering wheel off a 1210? The steering wheel is plastic with a molded or pressed in steel insert that goes onto the steering column. It looks like if I simply put a puller on the (plastic) steering wheel the plastic may break before the metal insert comes free from the steering column. I have the options of drilling and tapping the steel insert for #10 screws and installing some kind of puller on then. Or making a split collar to go under the steering wheel and push against the bottom of the steel steering wheel insert when connect to a puller. This should be easy and I'm stumped. Any ideas? Thanks

jimmysisson · Mar 16, 2009

Back in my auto repair days we used to put our knees behind the wheel and pull up. Thread the retaining nut on just about flush with the spindle, then whack it with a well-aimed blow with a brass hammer. The shock would almost always loosen it. Careful not to bugger something up with a bad aim.
Jim

pacosperson · Mar 16, 2009

That was my first attempt. I've accumulated a few manuals on this but none covers this. Somethings I'd think should be included. Kinda under; "do it right or increase the cost of the project". I guess I'll drill and tap the steel insert 10-32 and make a puller. It's not actually a big job. When I was younger it would have been fun. Of course I expect lots of solutions to arrive just as soon as I have that done. File under: I leave my snow blower on the tractor to keep it from snowing!!! Don't dare take it off. Thanks for the reply. I'll putter around with this until the weather breaks. I just wanted to remove the entire gauge assembly and replace/rebuild/repaint/upgrade the parts. Want to remove the idiot lights.

sld · Mar 16, 2009

Hey Pacosperson,

I have a 1210 also that is fun to play with. What ideas do you have for the gauges? Sounds like a good project for mine.

Do you have any pics of your 1210? I had mine in my garage all winter waiting for snow. Well, it only snowed once and I spent the rest of the time cleaning, painting and changing fluids. Also bought new R1's for it. It's looking good and ready for spring.

Later,

fltem06 · Mar 16, 2009

My steering wheel was "Married" to the shaft. I've heard of pulling on the outside of steering wheel then rock side to side, but I ended up using a bearing splitter underneath the wheel, an H-bar and bolts to put pressure underneath evenly. Put a socket (old junk one) on the shaft and tightened, then hit with BFH. Tightened again,BFH, you get the picture...I needed heat,but like I said...it was married.

pacosperson · Mar 17, 2009

Hi SLD,
There about 3" of steering column between the gauge panel and the steering wheel. I want to install an aftermarket two gauge panel on a bracket I'll attach to the column. I'd like oil pressure but insist on having water temperature. Worst thing you can do to an engine is over heat it. I may imbed the gauges in the Ford gauge panel depending on what I find if I ever get the panel off. While I'm at it I'll replace the ignition switch with a high quality universal replacement using the 'acc' for the pre-heat. The Ford switch has a bad reputation. My Ford dealer sold me a Kubota temperature sender he says will fit. It's 31351-32830. That's a Kubota number. It screws into the block and has a male blade terminal connection. I don't know what gauge it would work with. I bought it to get a look at the threads. It measures 9.77MM so I guess it's a 10 MM thread. I can buy a gauge and do some testing. Temp gauges are cheap enough. I just bought the tractor and am learning about it. It came with a 60" belly mower I really wanted and a killer 715A snow blower relocated to the front. The snow blower has a bar, don't know what you'd call it, that transfers the load back to the rear end. So it's not simply attached to the front of the frame. I used it once. It's a great unit! I intend to fabricate a bucket, probably from CADLoader. I need to get and place some large rocks to control stream edge erosion. I haven't modified it much. Put on some fender braces to assist me in climbing on and off. It now has a 12 volt receptacle for my sprayers and a metal basket behind the seat for gloves, pruning shears etc. This is not a pretty tractor. All my photographs are of things I want to reassemble correctly. I redid the mower deck; it's a complex system. I modified the parking brake release so I can reach it easier. I can send you a picture of that. And if I get these gauges done I'll send photos of that too. My next project is to find NAPA filters. The Ford prices are crazy. This ended up being long, sorry.