I was wondering whether anybody had thought about adding a quick release steering wheel on their cruisers for if they are being left out side
Just curious
Just curious
Quick release steering wheel
- Thread starter cruizakid
- Start date
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In one of my past positions the boss was thinking of going into the mfg of splined type steering wheel QD's. So I ordered a sample of every version easily available on the U.S. market and examined them all for features, strengths, & weaknesses. Ironically the least favorable unit was a design that this company already made, those with a hex instead of a spline. The hex type are really intended for the drag race market and are sloppy when new.
The best splined unit, by a clear margin, was the Mark Williams product. Lots of detail features that really made it a nice assembly. It was deliberately missing one spline so that the wheel would only go on one way. It had an o-ring near the top of the splines with a tapered shoulder that it bore up against to control wobble (has to be some clearance or it won't come apart and go together nicely), and it comes in a couple different steering wheel attachment methods so if using one of two specific brands of steering wheels there would be no adapter between the wheel and the QD (a third version allowed adapter use). The only issue that it has for dirt use is that the splines are very fine. A little grit in the splines would be problem. It uses steel balls trapped in holes (like most air hose QD's) to retain the wheel on the steering shaft. I'd call it the Rolls-Royce of steering wheel QD's.
The Chevy of steering wheel QD's is made by a company that makes circle track (Sprint Car) racing equipment, Sweet. Their splines are a lot bigger and much more dirt tolerant. The male to female spline fit was almost as good as the Mark Williams, but quite obviously was designed with dirt in mind. The retention design was also much more dirt tolerant than the MW design. Would be my first choice for anything seeing dirt.
Will your local laws allow a steering wheel QD? What will you do about the horn switch?
The best splined unit, by a clear margin, was the Mark Williams product. Lots of detail features that really made it a nice assembly. It was deliberately missing one spline so that the wheel would only go on one way. It had an o-ring near the top of the splines with a tapered shoulder that it bore up against to control wobble (has to be some clearance or it won't come apart and go together nicely), and it comes in a couple different steering wheel attachment methods so if using one of two specific brands of steering wheels there would be no adapter between the wheel and the QD (a third version allowed adapter use). The only issue that it has for dirt use is that the splines are very fine. A little grit in the splines would be problem. It uses steel balls trapped in holes (like most air hose QD's) to retain the wheel on the steering shaft. I'd call it the Rolls-Royce of steering wheel QD's.
The Chevy of steering wheel QD's is made by a company that makes circle track (Sprint Car) racing equipment, Sweet. Their splines are a lot bigger and much more dirt tolerant. The male to female spline fit was almost as good as the Mark Williams, but quite obviously was designed with dirt in mind. The retention design was also much more dirt tolerant than the MW design. Would be my first choice for anything seeing dirt.
Will your local laws allow a steering wheel QD? What will you do about the horn switch?
I will look this up, thinking security myself as I had my 60 broken into the FIRST day back after spending months in India without any issues!! Stole my $3 soft cooler with my travel mug and tiffin tins.
I digress....
I've seen a few trucks with a rubbe covered plunger button just mounted on the dash. So long as it is in a location that would be instinctive to hit, that would be a very valid option I think.
I digress....
I've seen a few trucks with a rubbe covered plunger button just mounted on the dash. So long as it is in a location that would be instinctive to hit, that would be a very valid option I think.
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Did you test out a quick release made by TEKNIQ? They claim to have a street-legal version that uses locking pins instead of a splined shaft and is compatible with a 6-bolt steering wheel (MOMO, Sparco, etc) which can often have horn buttons. My truck recently got stolen so I'm thinking about security upgrades if I ever get it back.
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- Thread starter
- #5
Have you ever tried the sparco quick release beforentsqd said:
No quick disconnect is street legal in any state in Australia. Insurance will wipe you completely if you are involved in an accident. Change your door locks to keyless entry and use a key pad ignition system through an all black wire black box with alarm system if you are that worried. If you are in a position to carry your steering wheel around it would be easier to carry 2 wheel clamps in the car and use them.
We were only interested in racing specific QR's. There is or was another brand of similar street type QR that we didn't bother with since it wasn't intended for racing use.
The Sparco unit, to the best of my knowledge, was not available in the U.S. at that time or it would have been included.
Sounds like something that would also be true in the UK. I found while living in England that the insurance companies there had come up with a plethora of ways to limit the modification of vehicles by refusing insurance coverage. I could see no validity to their position that the modifications reduced the safety of the vehicle or increased the likelihood of an accident. But, the insurance companies in the US have sold the NHTSA on making airbags, tire pressure monitoring, and many other nonsense changes to vehicles, so insurance company meddling is a global PITA...
In looking at the Sparco unit online I see nothing other than price to distinguish it from the Sweet Mfg part. Holding it in hand might be a different story, hard to tell. Unless you opt for Sparco's bolts-to-an-adapter version, which wouldn't be that hard to fabricate if mills & lathes are a normal part of your skill-set.
maat
yeah nah maybe
^this guy. He knows.
Installing a quick release steering wheel in for theft purposes is impractical on so many levels it defies all logic. Are you going to go to a pub, shop, friends house, park, wedding, funeral, swingers party Etc carrying your S/wheel?
put a hidden kill switch in it, it will cost you sweet FA and will be ALOT more practicable
Thought you weren't into "rice" ?
