FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Hi everyone, Kind of a dumb question and it's kind of a personal choice. I'm just looking at options on recovering my M's steeringwheel or getting a whole new one. It's a 1951 M I bought a couple months back from an 80 acre hobby farmer. The tractor isn't 100% orginal or 100% pretty with some leaks, and "farmertizing " wiring but it's all okay by me though. It's a tractor to do tractor things and still looks decent. The steeringwheel wheel was wrapped with peeling electrical tape and pieces were falling off. For the moment I wrapped it with athletic tape.......a little wider, has a gripping texture and doesn't get sticky when hot. it looks okay to me and blends in, but it could look better/nicer. I was thinking about getting a true wrap around cover from the truck stop.......steeringwheel wheel is 18 inches so the the 14 inch actual covers or wrap sold at auto stores won't work. I think it'd look a little nicer, and fill in the missing chunks a little more. My only thought is it kind of reminds me of something you'd see on an old lady's 1987 buick Sunday morning at church. For 50 to 60 dollars I can get a whole new wheel. All I'm finding is all black. I'd like to have red in the center but fear if I repaint it then all of a sudden it'll stand out over the faded and rusty paint. In reality I feel I might as well do it right and get a new wheel but at the same point the other one is straight and matches where just a cover would be fine and easier to add. At the same point with any option. If it ain't broke don't fix it..... Anyone have any thoughts or opinions? Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mudfly Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 You can send yours out to have new plastic put on. Seems to me there was a place in WI that does that. They sell high quality gauges also. found it. Evergreen gauges 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 20 Author Share Posted September 20 Cool. Thank you very much. They're about 4 hours north of me. When I had my John Deere B and had issues with new gauges I bought. Guys on a green forum mentioned him and talked very highly of his work. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iowaboy1965 Posted September 20 Share Posted September 20 Just my opinion but I would go with the athletic tape over the other truck stop cover you show. I think it will always be trying to come off if you use it much at all. Recovering your old wheel or a new one both sound like good options too. Probably the best options in the long run..let us know how it turns out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supermechanic Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 At my place, a number of steering wheels have been fixed up with autobody filler and black tape. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 21 Author Share Posted September 21 32 minutes ago, supermechanic said: At my place, a number of steering wheels have been fixed up with autobody filler and black tape. I didn't think of filler. I do recall hearing about it though now that you mentioned it. The tape I used I really like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TN Hillbilly Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I have used those steering wheel covers and like them in cars or trucks (but the quality isn't as good as they used to be...) So we used one of those covers ONE TIME on a repainted Ford tractor. Looked great! And came right off the first time we raked hay with it... Just wouldn't take the strain of being torqued around on a manual steering tractor...Our experience only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC Snider Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I’ve done several steering wheel that were cracked and missing pieces. I just filled them up with JB weld, some light sanding, and several coats of black lacquer. My oldest repair was 13 years ago, still looks great. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ray54 Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I was thinking someone had done as DC has done and gave pictures of the process. Where ever I saw it looked very usable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 21 Author Share Posted September 21 6 hours ago, ray54 said: I was thinking someone had done as DC has done and gave pictures of the process. Where ever I saw it looked very usable. Before asking the question I looked in the search option but didn't see anything. Now that I know what I'm looking for I'll look more on line . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
England806 Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 Quick cure epoxy resin works well. As long as you clean and roughen the surface it holds well. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65806 Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 I bought a new one, put it on and never looked back. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacAR Posted September 21 Share Posted September 21 If time is not an option (i.e. you've nothing better to do) I'd rebuild the original. I think there's a good write-up on the Farmall Cub forum on how to do it. If you're like me and have too much to do without taking on anymore work, buy a new one and roll on. Mac 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafarm49 Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 I use these. It fills up my hand better. My joints are stiff and I like a fatter grip. They are cheap and hold up fairly well 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diesel Doctor Posted September 22 Share Posted September 22 I haven't taken an H/M steering wheel off for a long time. I would suspect that a very good puller and possibly a torch may be needed to get the old one off. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 On 9/21/2023 at 8:01 PM, gafarm49 said: I use these. It fills up my hand better. My joints are stiff and I like a fatter grip. They are cheap and hold up fairly well Is that just a bigger legit steering wheel cover? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 23 Author Share Posted September 23 12 hours ago, Diesel Doctor said: I haven't taken an H/M steering wheel off for a long time. I would suspect that a very good puller and possibly a torch may be needed to get the old one off. From what I read most guys cut the wheel off instead of trying to save it. I pulled a steering wheel off a 1969 John deere 110 garden tractor this past summer and that was even a chore. Lots of pb blaster and and ended up using the ceiling hoist. A trick I read wave weaving a 2x4 in the wheel for leverage or beat on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafarm49 Posted September 23 Share Posted September 23 22 hours ago, FoxrunFarms02 said: Is that just a bigger legit steering wheel cover? No I don't think so. You really have to stretch it to get it on and when you do it stays in place really good. I know it may look tacky but its really comfy on the hands. I put on on my 986 4 post last spring that rarely is inside and it still looks new 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 24 Author Share Posted September 24 3 hours ago, gafarm49 said: No I don't think so. You really have to stretch it to get it on and when you do it stays in place really good. I know it may look tacky but its really comfy on the hands. I put on on my 986 4 post last spring that rarely is inside and it still looks new Before I posted the question I bought a 12.00 cover like that from fleet farm I believe 15 inches was the biggest one and the steering wheel is 18. I got it almost on and it ripped apart. Yours looks pretty decent. It does what it's supposed to and if it feels comfortable and works for you that's awesome. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ny bill o Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 I have one of those covers on the 400. When it is outside in the rain, it collects water as it is open to the inside of the wheel. I'd just get a new one and be done with it for years. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gafarm49 Posted September 24 Share Posted September 24 10 hours ago, FoxrunFarms02 said: Before I posted the question I bought a 12.00 cover like that from fleet farm I believe 15 inches was the biggest one and the steering wheel is 18. I got it almost on and it ripped apart. Yours looks pretty decent. It does what it's supposed to and if it feels comfortable and works for you that's awesome. they have the 17 and 18 in on amazon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Rowehl Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 If I wasn’t worried about keeping it original, I’d just buy a new one as long as the old one comes off without too much of a fight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nomorejohndeere Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 make one out of chain link... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captian Kirk Posted September 25 Share Posted September 25 41 minutes ago, nomorejohndeere said: make one out of chain link... Those hurt when you slide into them abruptly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FoxrunFarms02 Posted September 25 Author Share Posted September 25 18 minutes ago, Captian Kirk said: Those hurt when you slide into them abruptly. I guess barb wire is out of question then........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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