steering wheel spinner knobs

[patrick_g]

I wonder if the "girlie" knobs are still available......

Oh yeah, just like "Sambo's" pancake house restaurants.

I'm afraid most such items went the way of the dodo under the gun of the PC wave.

Pat

 

[Egon]

Some of use older folks may remember such spinners but really don't know anymore why they were of interest!

 

[J_J]

Some of use older folks may remember such spinners but really don't know anymore why they were of interest!

I am pretty old myself, and the spinners have always been of interest, and many people still use them. They were used in cars, trucks, and tractors. That suicide knob crap is just that, Yes some, but how would they even know if that was the cause. I believe that it was Ford that had a built in spinner on the inside of the steering wheel. Maybe some have had a bad experience, but I would guess that most haven't. Perhaps if you used one you would be aware of it's advantage. Of course if you use it wrong it will get your attention real quick. I have a Kubota B7100 HST, and a B9200 HST, Ford 8N, and my Power-Trac, and they all have spinners. They help out quite a bit. But, to each his own.

 

[SnowRidge]

Some of use older folks may remember such spinners but really don't know anymore why they were of interest!

Oh, come on. You're not that old.....Surely.

 

[Egon]

The mind seems to revert to mush every so often. And some days the body feels like it is indeed ancient!

Spinner use is up to the individual. It makes no difference to me if one uses one or not.

Myself, I will not use one on a manual steering four wheel drive vehicle or tractor. My little Kubota regularly spins out from my grasp when it gets into the uneven terrain in the woods. I've also had the privilege of watching the steering wheel on manual steered four wheel drive trucks do the same thing many a time. I adjust my use according to my experiences.

 

[Greenmountain Farmer]

If anybody took our old JD 920 to the woodlot very often they would see why there is no spinner and you only palm the steering wheel
Tom

 

[RobJ]

If anybody took our old JD 920 to the woodlot very often they would see why there is no spinner and you only palm the steering wheel
Tom

You either have to hold on real tight, or real lose. If you are in the woods you have to be ready to stick the clutch in a hurry. But if it starts to spin wildly, get your hand out of the way!!

 

[AchingBack]

Damned near broke my hand in my Corvette powered '56 Chev...

No more spinners for me!

Back in the 50's, in Southern California, we called them Brody Knobs. I have one on my tractor, and I find it to be in the right position about half of the time.

From Wikipedia:

A brodie knob (alternate spelling brody knob) is a knob that attaches to the steering wheel of an automobile. The knob swivels, and is intended to make steering with one hand less difficult. Brodie knobs are also known as necker knobs, presumably because they allow steering with one hand while the driver wraps his other arm around his passenger's shoulders. Other names include Suicide Knob, Granny Knob, and Steering Wheel Spinner.

Although brodie knobs were never widely popular, they enjoyed limited popularity on trucks before the advent of power steering. Their main use today is still in trucks, particularly semi trucks where they allow simultaneous steering and operation of the radio. They also see extensive use on forklift trucks used in warehouses and even riding lawnmowers, where frequent sharp turning is required while moving about.

Wheel-spinners are also used for helping people with disabilities, such as multiple sclerosis, and people with only one hand, or arm to drive automobiles.

Decorative versions of brodie knobs are also available. Popular designs include chrome-plated and 8 ball.

Brodie Knobs were widely popularized, especially on the west coast of the U.S., during the 1950s. Their intention was to be used primarily as addition to a Hot Rod. The knob was used to spin the steering wheel, rapidly in one direction or the other, while accelerating, to cause the tire(s) to spin. Hence, comes the term "lay a brodie". In the 1950s and 60's a person could go into any local "Pep Boys" and choose from a large variety of "Brodie Knobs", with every conceivable theme, from "Candy Apple colored", "Product Logos", to "nude women," and everything in between, some automobile dealerships even used them for advertisements. They were very useful during a period of auto manufacturing, when power steering was truly a luxury.

 

[gemini5362]

here is the ebay link several for john deere and other types steering wheel spinners, eBay Motors, Business Industrial items on eBay.com

 

[3RRL]

I've been following this thread all along.
This week I did a lot of tractor work and noticed particularly how I used the spinner knob every time I had to back up. It was like second nature, making it much easier to control the steering wheel when looking over my shoulder. Then I drove my wife's tractor which does not have one. I found myself searching for it (the spinner) when I backed up on hers. I bought one to put on it a while ago, but I have to find it first. It's going on her steering wheel as soon as I do!

 

[J_J]

Here is a selection of knobs for those who care.

http://www.pronto.com/user/search.d...ering wheel knobs&creativeid=1770016604&site=

 

[WilliamBos]

Here is a selection of knobs for those who care.

Steering Wheel Knobs - Other Automotive Tools & Hardware - Compare & Buy at the Lowest Price - Pronto.com - Best Prices

Nice stuff. Thanks.

 

[LBrown59]

Those spinners were popular about the same time there were
*mechanical pencils that had a picture of a girl in them and when you turned it over her clothes fell off.

Pat

*I remember them from when i was a kid.
I also had a spinner on my 1950 chevy back then.

 

[LBrown59]

girlie pic.

Used to see them a lot back in my day:

 

[gemini5362]

I've been following this thread all along.
This week I did a lot of tractor work and noticed particularly how I used the spinner knob every time I had to back up. It was like second nature, making it much easier to control the steering wheel when looking over my shoulder. Then I drove my wife's tractor which does not have one. I found myself searching for it (the spinner) when I backed up on hers. I bought one to put on it a while ago, but I have to find it first. It's going on her steering wheel as soon as I do!

Look at one of my earlier posts to this thread I had a link to ebay where they have spinners for sale. I agree with you 100 per cent. I did not realize how much I used my spinner on my kubota until I started reading this thread then I noticed I used it a lot. I might go ahead and get one for my Montana also.

 

[Soundguy]

I use spinners when doing loader work, as I have one hand on the loader spools.. etc..

soundguy

 

[SPYDERLK]

Some young fellars here have never had the pleasure of having a manual four wheel drive with no power steering wrench the steering wheels out of their hands!

Ive had the JD tricycle do it. No knob for me on that one - even wish that wheel didnt need spokes. may try it on the BX
larry

 

[Soundguy]

Now that reminds me of a funny one I saw one time.. guy had a trike and the steering wheel was gone!.. had the hub ont he wheel, and a single spoke going up to where the wheel would have been.. at the end of the spoke was a spinner. only one I've ever seen like that..

soundguy

 

[SPYDERLK]

Now that reminds me of a funny one I saw one time.. guy had a trike and the steering wheel was gone!.. had the hub ont he wheel, and a single spoke going up to where the wheel would have been.. at the end of the spoke was a spinner. only one I've ever seen like that..

soundguy

Funny fer shur. Sounds like a rotary club! Destined for extinction by making users unable to reproduce.
larry

 

[Soundguy]

The spoke doesn't stick out any further than it did befor ethey cut the steering wheel off.. so i dn't see how your comment applies?

If some-thing- was sticking up for this spoke to hit it.. it would have done soe with the oem multi-spoke steering wheel..e tc?????

soundguy