Removing Stazo Steering Wheel on R-21EC

[abcandjrc]

I am varnishing my interior and want to remove as much as possible that is in the way. I have come up with a problem removing the steering wheel. It is a wood-rimmed, stainless-steel-spoked Stazo. I expected it to slip off after I removed the nut. It won't. I see that some of you have probably done this since wheels are listed for sale. Am I missing something?

I notice that the Stazo literature warns in bold print not to over-tighten the nut. I wonder if that is the problem. I also wonder if tapping the shaft will break the bond (as I have done succesfully with automotive wheels that had tapered seats). But I am afraid to try it unless someone has successfully pulled that off or knows it is safe or will even work. I am a good mechanic, but unknowns always spook me. I'd sure hate to destroy the steering gear getting the wheel off.

(If all else fails I will try to find a gear puller that might fit over the hub. Unfortunately, there is no provision in the hub itself to mount a steering wheel puller.)

 

[abcandjrc]

FYI I had sent e-mail to Uniflex with basically the same question. They responded overnight and said that the only way to remove a "stuck" wheel is with a wheel puller. They warned that tapping the shaft could, and probably would, damage the steering gear.

Now all I have to do is find a suitable puller. I suspect the damper and timing gear puller I sold a few years ago would have worked just fine...... 😉

I find that many suppliers do not respond at all to e-mail, and many take days, so Uniflex gets an A+ from me for service.