Cracked Steering Wheel

[GeoHorn]

I noticed a Crack in the rim of the steering wheel on my M4700. It’s a crack which is a clean and complete crack all the way thru at the mid-point between two spokes. I don’t know how these things are made…but the break is so clean, straight and complete…about 1/16” wide… exposing the metal “rod” that makes up the base….that it resembles as-if it were molded with that crack being at the ends of the mould-line.

I”ve mixed up some JBWeld Kwik and used a tongue-depressor to ”pack” it into the crack…and wrapped it with masking tape to hold it until it cures overnight in this cool weather. (I’m about to go out and see how that turned out now, expecting to need to sand it with fine sandpaper to give a good finish.)

Just wondering if anyone else has experiences like this.

I suspect that my male family members use the steering wheel as a “hand-hold” to pull themselves up into the seat…which cannot be a good thing to do. I”ve done so myself in the past and tried to discourage that…as Kubota designed two hand-holds into the tractor…one on the left fender and one as a FEL cross-brace across the instrument panel.

 

[fried1765]

I noticed a Crack in the rim of the steering wheel on my M4700. It’s a crack which is a clean and complete crack all the way thru at the mid-point between two spokes. I don’t know how these things are made…but the break is so clean, straight and complete…about 1/16” wide… exposing the metal “rod” that makes up the base….that it resembles as-if it were molded with that crack being at the ends of the mould-line.

I”ve mixed up some JBWeld Kwik and used a tongue-depressor to ”pack” it into the crack…and wrapped it with masking tape to hold it until it cures overnight in this cool weather. (I’m about to go out and see how that turned out now, expecting to need to sand it with fine sandpaper to give a good finish.)

Just wondering if anyone else has experiences like this.

I suspect that my male family members use the steering wheel as a “hand-hold” to pull themselves up into the seat…which cannot be a good thing to do. I”ve done so myself in the past and tried to discourage that…as Kubota designed two hand-holds into the tractor…one on the left fender and one as a FEL cross-brace across the instrument panel.

I would not blame anyone, except the sun (not son), and plastic(?) composite age.

 

[DustyRusty]

Should have V'd the break with a file and left the walls rough. Overfill the crack and then sand after the filler sets up. Keep using progressively finer sandpaper till it is smooth. Paint and hope that it doesn't come back. That is how we do it with our old cars.

 

[GeoHorn]

I would not blame anyone, except the sun (not son), and plastic(?) composite age.

I keep it stored indoors and the previous owner claimed to do so also. (The paint is bright/shiney after 28 years still…and the original seat vinyl was fine/not cracked…so maybe he did.)

I’ll post a pic of the finished repair tonite.

 

[DustyRusty]

Plastics shrink with age, just like vinyls do. Even humans shrink with age, well, as to in height, not girth!

 

[NorthwoodsLife]

Sounds like your fix will be good.

I use a spinner knob on my Kubota so I rarely actually grab the wheel.

Part Details | Coleman Equipment

For effortless turning of tractors and other off-road equipment - Smooth spinning design and a split base design for easy mounting. Designed to attach to steering wheels

www.colemanequip.com

 

[GeoHorn]

Here’s the finished repair:

 

[retired farmer]

Here’s the finished repair:

View attachment 120057 View attachment 120058

close enough for gummit work.
rr

 

[kcs]

Here’s the finished repair:

View attachment 120057 View attachment 120058

Where did you get the handle that runs between the loader arms? I have the same problem with my wife using the steering wheel when she gets up. Awesome repair by the way

 

[Donystoy]

Great repair. I have done car restorations and JB weld sure comes in handy. Plastic certainly shrinks and gets brittle with age. Hard to find an original steering wheel in an older classic car without at least one crack.

 

[Nicksacco]

Very nice repair!
I think you're right about the wheel used as one of the 3-points!

 

[GeoHorn]

Where did you get the handle that runs between the loader arms? I have the same problem with my wife using the steering wheel when she gets up. Awesome repair by the way

It was part of the original loader installation. There’s another boarding-handle on the front of the left fender.

Item 70 in Messicks diagram of the LA 1002 Loader:

 

[Vigo]

I think vasically all of them do that crack eventually. The plastic shrinks and it cracks from tension which is why its so ‘clean’ of a break. Nice repair job!