Steering Wheel Quick Release

[bobcowan]

I really like a quick release. Handy for a lot of things: Cleaning, under dash work, security. Just a nice add on, IMO. But, I kept reading that it was difficult to do, and required custom machine work.

The piece on the left bolts on to the hub, where the steering wheel bolts on. The bolts come with it.


The piece on the right, bolts to the back of the steering wheel. Use the same bolts that were used on the steering wheel. Lock nuts and washers are provided.


The BDR steering wheel uses a Sparko bolt pattern. The quick release is keyed, so it only goes together one way. Pay attention to that as you're bolting stuff together.

And, you're done! Sort of. It is now perfectly functional. Just doesn't look that good.





To fill in the center hole, I'll find an emblem I like and fit it in there. This is what I did for my FFR. A fender emblem fit almost perfectly.


I'll find some kind of trim piece to fill the area between the hub and the release handle. I may end up powdercoating the polished hub black so it all matches. Or powdercoat the Sparko parts in near-chrome. I'll have to think on that a bit.

I want to get a new steering wheel anyway. I'm not a big fan of the wood wheel.

[coach36]

Sweet Bob. I gonna do that too.
Did you change the hub too?

[spdbrake]

Thanks Bob, I had thought of doing the same thing a couple of weeks ago.
Bolt-on Steering quick release hub

I was going to use a OMP low profile hub and now I'm learning towards the NRG Thin hub @ 1.25" thick. https://www.jegs.com/p/NRG-Innovatio...51011/10002/-1

Once the construction on my new home and my move is over, starting a new job, with the lock-down from the virus, jeez. NO stress here!

Needless to say I'm cutoff from toy buying for a bit.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

... with the lock-down from the virus, jeez. NO stress here!

I would bet that strong gas and exhaust fumes probably kill the virus on contact anyway.

[bobcowan]

Originally Posted by coach36

Sweet Bob. I gonna do that too.
Did you change the hub too?

No. You unbolt the steering wheel and bolt on the quick release in it's place. It moves the wheel 2" back. Which, for me, feels better.

Last night I ordered a new Sparko steering wheel. Leather, and a little more modern looking. I'm not sure I'm going to like that. I know I'll like the feel, but maybe not the look. We'll see.

[lomdel]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

... now I'm leaning towards the NRG Thin hub @ 1.25" thick. https://www.jegs.com/p/NRG-Innovatio...51011/10002/-1 .

I would love to use one of these low-profile thin NRG ones as well. Any pics of one installed on a Cobra somewhere?

[bobcowan]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

I was going to use a OMP low profile hub and now I'm learning towards the NRG Thin hub @ 1.25" thick. https://www.jegs.com/p/NRG-Innovatio...51011/10002/-1

I looked at that one, and a few others. I especially like the look of the NRG - very smooth and finished. I would have liked to remove the polished alum hub, and bolt on the QR hub.

But, I could never find out exactly what the spline measurements are. The only way to do it is to order a bunch of them and see which ones might fit, and then return the rest. Not in my budget.

[spdbrake]

The NRG bolts on just like the Sparco directly to the chrome hub you have.

[Quentin Z]

I had the hub machined down (looks nicer and keeps the wheel in the original position) and had to have the steering wheels redrilled to the NRG pattern. Here's a link to the thread with my pics (10th post):

Sparco quick release steering hub

Upside= Can switch out the wood and the leather wheels.
Downside= Have to remove the wheel every time I park, so nobody takes it.

Probably would elect not to do again.

[spdbrake]

Thank for the pics Quentin. I see your point machining the OD of your hub to allow the locking collar to rotate. The NRG adapter has a standard 70mm PCD bolt spacing on the hub side and a 70mm + a 74mm PCD pattern on the steering wheel side. What make / pattern were your wheels?

Steering Wheel Hub Patterns | GTSparkplugs

[Quentin Z]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

Thank for the pics Quentin. I see your point machining the OD of your hub to allow the locking collar to rotate. The NRG adapter has a standard 70mm PCD bolt spacing on the hub side and a 70mm + a 74mm PCD pattern on the steering wheel side. What make / pattern were your wheels?

Steering Wheel Hub Patterns | GTSparkplugs

I did not have to machine the OD. the hub was barrel shaped and symmetrical. I just had the outer taper cut off, so there was less gap between the hub and NRG receiver.

I believe both wheels were Nardi; definitely 6 bolt. I had to re-drill and countersink the wheel to match the NRG piece just like the pattern you attached, meaning I centered the top and bottom bolts.

[spdbrake]

Thanks Quentin, I measured mine yesterday and found I have the Orig Cobra Mota-lita pattern of 62MM from the 1 o'clock to 7 o'clock position.

Funny I can now see the top two screw holes are further apart than the bottom two. Making the pattern asymmetric. I'm a little slow on the uptake some days...
https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/steering...ather-rim-oem/
https://www.moto-lita.co.uk/bosses/cobra-barrel-boss-1/

So the NRG adapter is def off for a bit until I decide if I want to get a different wheel as well.

[Quentin Z]

Mine may have been 62mm also, I don't recall.

The good news is that if you drill the NRG pattern off-set to 12 o'clock, you can always go back to the original pattern if needed.

[bobcowan]

I finally got around to changing the steering wheel. Do I like the way it looks? Maybe. The wood certainly looks better. BUT, this is so much more comfortable to drive with. I went for a 4 hours drive yesterday. So much better feeling.

The new wheel is very slightly smaller. You would think that would make it harder to steer. But it's such a small amount I didn't really notice it.

The center emblem is a nose emblem that I cut the posts off, and attached with double sided tape.

[Karl Bebout]

Bob, the pictures show very little room between the ridge of your dash and the wheel. Optical illusion or do you need really thin fingers?

[bobcowan]

Just optical illusion. a 2D image of a 3d world.

The quick release move the wheel back 2"; which is much more comfortable for me. No interference with ingress or egress, either.

[coach36]

Originally Posted by spdbrake

The NRG bolts on just like the Sparco directly to the chrome hub you have.

So the NRG QR will fit to the BD steering hub? Do you know which NRG products I would need?