Steering Wheel

[Bill_qaz]

Ah yes sorry not realised talking earlier series mine is early series 5 with banjo wheel and that's the socket I bought and it fitted.

[geoberni]

On the basis of Bill's and Phil's comments I was going to get something like this: https://www.primetools.co.uk/product/me ... 8-175mm-7/
But if the nut on SII's is different to later cars, I'm still not quite sure. Can anyone confirm exactly which size box spanner I will need for the SII steering wheel nut?

Well I've explained the differences.
Check your own car, it's only a piddling little screw to open it up. I'm sure you can measure it, if only by putting as strip of paper in there and marking it to measure with a ruler.
Here's a photo of mine. 1.47inch.
Make your own decision.
Incidentally, whereas section J of the WS manual specified a 7/8th (W) box spanner, JJ for the Minor 1000 specified Service Tool 18G 512, or a suitable box spanner.
So clearly, since they saw fit to mention it, they were not the same nut.

I'm just going to add the Box Spanner to my list of search items at autojumbles.

20250527_183426.jpg (1.59 MiB) Viewed 1018 times

[myoldjalopy]

Well, in my manual, the service tool is given as 18G310, a steering wheel extractor, and is mentioned in the sections for the MM and SII and the one for the 1000 model. In any case, the extractor has nothing to do with the size of the nut, as that has to be removed before the extractor can be used.
As the earlier section mentions 'a 7/8" box spanner' and the steering wheel extractor, and the section on the 1000 model simply mentions removing the nut and then using the extractor, I am not convinced that the nuts are not the same size for all models.

[Wes]

I'm sure its been said before but my dad once told me when you remove the a steering wheel dont take the nut all the way off when you try to release the wheel from the splined column. This way you don't smash yourself in the face when it lets go!

[geoberni]

Well, in my manual, the service tool is given as 18G310, a steering wheel extractor, and is mentioned in the sections for the MM and SII and the one for the 1000 model. In any case, the extractor has nothing to do with the size of the nut, as that has to be removed before the extractor can be used.
As the earlier section mentions 'a 7/8" box spanner' and the steering wheel extractor, and the section on the 1000 model simply mentions removing the nut and then using the extractor, I am not convinced that the nuts are not the same size for all models.

Well perhaps read it again.
The 18G 310 is the Steering Wheel Extractor.
The 18G 512 is for removing the Nut on later cars, followed by use of the 18G 310 to remove the Wheel....
Unfortunately, having specified this tool in the relevant text, it doesn't appear in the Service Tools, sect Q, but presumably it just looked like a large Box Spanner...

Steering Wheel 1.JPG (209.29 KiB) Viewed 785 times

Steering Wheel 2.JPG (296.15 KiB) Viewed 785 times

Edited to correct a typo on the tool number

[Bill_qaz]

This is the socket I purchased to remove and refit my steering wheel. It's a 1962 build with banjo steering wheel. It was a perfect fit

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[geoberni]

I'm sure its been said before but my dad once told me when you remove the a steering wheel dont take the nut all the way off when you try to release the wheel from the splined column. This way you don't smash yourself in the face when it lets go!

That's why they devised the Steering Wheel Extractor.....

Steering Wheel Extractor.JPG (92.93 KiB) Viewed 761 times

[philthehill]

As regards the steering wheel remover - From Section Q 3 of the BMC wksp manual .......'Dealers who already posses tool No: 55418 and the attachment Part No: 56052 will find that this may also be used'.
When I worked in the BMC garage way back we used a Sykes Pickavant universal steering wheel remover Pt No: JWP282 with hydraulic ram for removal of the steering wheel. Fortunately I have managed to acquire one of the Sykes Pickavant JWP282 removal tools.
As above - always leave the unscrewed nut in place by a few threads so that the steering wheel does not suddenly fly off and hit you in the face when released.

[svenedin]

I use this for my Series 5 steering wheel nut. It’s ideal.

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FullSizeRender.jpeg (2.16 MiB) Viewed 748 times

[myoldjalopy]

Bernie - I read my manual correctly the first time. It is clearly an earlier edition to yours, yours is issue 5 and mine is issue 2. Mine makes no mention of tool 18G 512 at all. Neither does it mention two-spoke wheels, as they clearly were not in existence when my manual was published. I am still not convinced that the nuts on different models were different sizes, the tool 18G512 may well have been created after my manual was published as an alternative to a humble box spanner. I think if Stephen got his car's steering wheel nut off with that box spanner the nuts must all be the same size............

[geoberni]

Bernie - I read my manual correctly the first time. It is clearly an earlier edition to yours, yours is issue 5 and mine is issue 2. Mine makes no mention of tool 18G 512 at all. Neither does it mention two-spoke wheels, as they clearly were not in existence when my manual was published. I am still not convinced that the nuts on different models were different sizes, the tool 18G512 may well have been created after my manual was published as an alternative to a humble box spanner. I think if Stephen got his car's steering wheel nut off with that box spanner the nuts must all be the same size............

Ah well, it you're using a really old manual...
I took those images from the pdf version I have, it's the same info as in the hard copy 14th edition that can be brought these days.
I'm confused to hell by the whole subject, after all the different people coming in with what they used on their cars.

All I know is mine is 1.5" AF on the vernier, so that's basically 7/8"W. What someone with a S3 or S5 does is down to them.

However, note that Stephen has not said which end of that Box Spanner he used on his S5.
It's marked as 3/4 x 7/8W....
Guess what....
Those are exactly the 2 sizes we've been talking about for the past few days.
Bill has posted that he used a 3/4W, which is 1.3" AF.

The ruddy list over in Technical says 3/4 BSW, yet the nut on my SII is 7/8W.

[svenedin]

Sorry I didn’t say which end. I’m in France and I don’t want to break the horn push just to confirm and I’ve had some red wine now……

IMG_2084.jpeg (4.17 MiB) Viewed 720 times

[Bill_qaz]

Bernie - I read my manual correctly the first time. It is clearly an earlier edition to yours, yours is issue 5 and mine is issue 2. Mine makes no mention of tool 18G 512 at all. Neither does it mention two-spoke wheels, as they clearly were not in existence when my manual was published. I am still not convinced that the nuts on different models were different sizes, the tool 18G512 may well have been created after my manual was published as an alternative to a humble box spanner. I think if Stephen got his car's steering wheel nut off with that box spanner the nuts must all be the same size............

Ah well, it you're using a really old manual...
I took those images from the pdf version I have, it's the same info as in the hard copy 14th edition that can be brought these days.
I'm confused to hell by the whole subject, after all the different people coming in with what they used on their cars.

All I know is mine is 1.5" AF on the vernier, so that's basically 7/8"W. What someone with a S3 or S5 does is down to them.

However, note that Stephen has not said which end of that Box Spanner he used on his S5.
It's marked as 3/4 x 7/8W....
Guess what....
Those are exactly the 2 sizes we've been talking about for the past few days.
Bill has posted that he used a 3/4W, which is 1.3" AF.

The ruddy list over in Technical says 3/4 BSW, yet the nut on my SII is 7/8W.

Berni
3/4 whit is 7/8 bsf is that part of the misinterpretation in the various lists.?

Whitworth (inch).BSF.(inch).Actual Metric.(mm)
3/4* 7/8* 33.02

1.3" across the flats as you said
In the manual quote highlighted in your post it simply says 7/8 box spanner, not saying whit or bsf.

Always remembering it's the nut behind the wheel that causes most accidents

[geoberni]

Berni
3/4 whit is 7/8 bsf is that part of the misinterpretation in the various lists.?

Whitworth (inch).BSF.(inch).Actual Metric.(mm)
3/4* 7/8* 33.02

1.3" across the flats as you said
In the manual quote highlighted in your post it simply says 7/8 box spanner, not saying whit or bsf.

Always remembering it's the nut behind the wheel that causes most accidents

No, there is no misinterpretation, there is just myoldjalopy having doubts.
As you rightly said, you did the job on your S5 car with a 3/4W, which as you say is 1.3"AF.
My SII has a nut which is 1.5"AF, which equates to 7/8"W.

Thet didn't need to state 7/82W in the workshop manual, it was intended for the mechanic of the day who knew what a Whitworth was...
The Box Spanner which myoldjalopy linked to here....

On the basis of Bill's and Phil's comments I was going to get something like this: https://www.primetools.co.uk/product/me ... 8-175mm-7/
But if the nut on SII's is different to later cars, I'm still not quite sure. Can anyone confirm exactly which size box spanner I will need for the SII steering wheel nut?

Is exactly the one that Stephen later posted a photo of, so it will do the job on either version.....

And that is definitely my final comment on the matter....
.....maybe....

[philthehill]

Get the correct socket, grind away the concave/hollow end so it sits fully flat against the steering wheel boss.
Then you can undo the nut with a socket breaker bar and then when refitting you can then torque it to the correct torque setting of 41 lb ft.
You cannot set the torque of the steering wheel nut with the box spanner.
If there is a torque setting quoted it is always best to use that torque setting rather than a guesstimate.

[geoberni]

Get the correct socket, grind away the concave/hollow end so it sits fully flat against the steering wheel boss.
Then you can undo the nut with a socket breaker bar and then when refitting you can then torque it to the correct torque setting of 41 lb ft.
You cannot set the torque of the steering wheel nut with the box spanner.
If there is a torque setting quoted it is always best to use that torque setting rather than a guesstimate.

That's a good point.
Though I'm interested in your figure of 41 lb ft.
The only reference I've seen is on WS manual page General Data 10, where it gives 32-37 lb ft.

IslipMinor's chart in Technical says 35 lb ft, which of course is the mid-point.

[philthehill]

BMC Wksp Manual AKD530L section General Data Issue 4. 71585. General Data 10. Torque spanner readings - Steering wheel nut 41 lb ft (5.7 kg. m).

[les]

I always adhere to torque settings where available, however I do wonder how such a specific figure like, for example 41ft lb, is arrived at!

Why not 39.5 ft lb. I may be being silly here but makes you think.————— let’s hope our torque wrenches are spot on !

[geoberni]

BMC Wksp Manual AKD530L section General Data Issue 4. 71585. General Data 10. Torque spanner readings - Steering wheel nut 41 lb ft (5.7 kg. m).

Interesting....
I've got a modern Brookland Books reprint hard copy version of the 14th Ed, and also a pdf copy of the actual 14th Ed as issued by BL in 1970.
The advantage of the pdf is that being the original loose leaf that has been scanned, it shows all the original page issues.
Apparently the torque setting changed between the 4th and 5th Editions.
Are the Front Hubs and Wheel Nut figures the same??

General Data 10.JPG (38.92 KiB) Viewed 524 times

[philthehill]

The front hub and wheel nut figures are the same.

I am not aware of any reason that BMC would want to reduce the torque setting of the steering wheel nut.
The only reason I can think of is that the higher torque pressed the female taper of the steering wheel harder onto the male taper of the steering column making it difficult to separate the two.