Steering Wheel Gunge Transfer Problem !

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 6:19 am

The steering wheel has lost a lot of its shiny surface. Below lurks the black plastic (?) material. Although I genally drive with clean(ish) hands, the exposed plastic gets quite cruddy after a while.

Not normally a problem, but when it's humid/cold/damp in the cab (11 months out of 12 in Scotland) the crud transfers itself to your hands.

I was contemplating giving it a good scrub with a household cream cleaner - the likes of Cif in the UK, then when thoroughly dry, either a few coats of clear varnish or black gloss paint.

Has anyone else had/dealt with this problem ?

The Black Hand Gang
712M

Pinzgauer Pete · Post by **Pinzgauer Pete** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 8:26 am

Driving a Pinz..is like playing in the mud...you are going to get dirty...no matter how hard you try to stay clean..but if it really bothers you the easiest solution is a steering wheel cover...cheers!

undysworld · Post by **undysworld** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:08 am

Google "steering wheel restoration" and you'll find several products offered specifically for steering wheels. I've never had this problem, but others apparently have dealt with it.

stiffler4444 · Post by **stiffler4444** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 9:38 am

happens to me as well, in the summer. Let us know how you make out. I have months of cold, snowy temps to wait till I need to address it !

cronapress · Post by **cronapress** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 3:06 pm

Thanks for the suggestions folks. Nobody seems to stock steering wheel covers large enough for the Pinz. Contacted a specialist restorer who wanted approx. £200/$313 + tax + delivery etc. just to re-coat it.

After speaking to some Land Rover Series owners, what they did was to thoroughly de-grease the wheel and apply several coats of black gloss paint. As I have a bonzoid tin of black gloss already, I'm going down that route.

Just want some warm, dry weather now. ha.ha.ha.

Mike
712M

pcolette · Post by **pcolette** » Tue Nov 02, 2010 11:26 pm

The shipping would probably be too expensive but this wheel cover has worked well for me:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/18-Steer ... 4061wt_950

Paul

Pinzgauer Pete · Post by **Pinzgauer Pete** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:17 am

Mike you live in the land of Jaguars, rovers, and such you mean to say the local parts stores dont have leather steering wheel wraps? They were popular here in the states some years ago and are one size fits all..you simply cut them to your size and there was enough material to cover a truck 22" steering wheel....as I remember they costed about 6 dollars...look for one on ebay..cheers

michaelh712 · Post by **michaelh712** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:41 am

or, check out these specific products...
http://search.eastwood.com/search?w=ste ... &ts=custom

Pinzgauer Pete · Post by **Pinzgauer Pete** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 9:51 am

Mike here ya go copy and paste http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Steering ... ccessories

Twin Pinzies · Post by **Twin Pinzies** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 10:42 am

I personally HATE the skinny profile of the Pinz steering wheel (seems like holding on to wire). It's much more comfortable when you add a bit more bulk and cushion. I got a steering wheel cover from an RV supply store. They make the right size-it's larger than the standard car size.
I hit it with disinfectant wipes once in a while...

4x4Pinz · Post by **4x4Pinz** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:28 pm

Been down this road before but here is how I handled the pinz steering wheel issue. I found the diameter of the out ring of the steering wheel to be difficult to grip with my older hands so I came up with this solution.

mopar · Post by **mopar** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:31 pm

4x4Pinz wrote:Been down this road before but here is how I handled the pinz steering wheel issue. I found the diameter of the out ring of the steering wheel to be difficult to grip with my older hands so I came up with this solution.

How can I get that wheel??
More infor please!!!

4x4Pinz · Post by **4x4Pinz** » Wed Nov 03, 2010 8:44 pm

I am currently trying to find a source for a billet that will accept a removable steering wheel (for added pinz security). I have a line on a guy who says he can make them if I send him a wheel and top portion of the shaft, both of which I have, just need to send them off.

The steering wheel that is on my truck is made by
1- cutting the hub out of an old pinz wheel
2- machining the hub down to an acceptable contour
3- machining a ledge onto the hub to accept a plate with the screw hole in it
4- welding the plate to the hub
5- clean up and paint new hub
6- cutting the holes to match the plate , in my case a Shroeder racing 17" steering wheel
7- bolting it all together
8- reattaching the horn wire to the button

When I did my first ones I wanted the original horn button. This was a major pain. If I can get the new billets I am not going to concern myself with this, but rather just use the aftermarket buttons that come with the steering wheels.

This is really not a bad project if you have access to a simple lathe and can weld aluminum (the original pinz wheel hub is some nasty aluminum to weld)

michaelh712 · Post by **michaelh712** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:07 am

Great solution, and I'd LOVE to have one as well. Please pm or post up details when you make this happen please.
Michael

David Dunn · Post by **David Dunn** » Thu Nov 04, 2010 12:22 pm

As this thread has gone from cleaning grunge from a steering wheel to a replacement steering wheel. Also the topics of a replacement steering wheel, and steering wheels cover are somewhere in the "old" tech section,
I suggest someone start a new thread with that as the subject ( so a search can find it). You may also reference a link to the old thread(s).

As far as cleaning a steering wheel, I'd start with household cleaners , and be very careful of commercial and industrial solvents, as they may act adversely to the plastic coating on the steering wheel and you could have something "grungier" than what you started with and a destroyed wheel.