Nardi steering wheels

[Bob G ✝︎]

I consider the classic Nardi wheels to be the true classic steering wheels for our vintage years 1963 to 1971. The Nardi I speaak of you might of seen onsome 300SL gullwings or roadsters. the horn button is large with the Mercedes-Benz star prowdly showing and the wheel is a bit the sizr of the of our standard steering wheels. The rim is slimmmer and the wood different. I guess this is a true glove wheel.
But that is just my take. I had a leather Nardi on my 280SL when I got it but took it off and sold it to replace it with an ivory wheel and center pad. O like the look of the orginal wheels and the feel.
Bob Geco
1968 280SL

[Khurram Darugar]

Dana,
     Thanks it was so dead simple i did'nt (Duhh) consider it.
Bob,
    The bigger nardi wheel while super rare, 300sl etc etc ...... to me looks like a boat wheel.  I like a midsize nardi simply for classic looks.  Ergonomics wise not ideal as the rim is right in the middle of the speedo, but besides that nardi looks sportier than the standard wheel.
I guess at the end to the day it depends what look you prefer.
Kay


Kay
Euro 280sl LHD Auto.

[66andBlue]

You just need to pop the ring off.   Mine actually has rubber where the bolt heads are covered making it difficult to remove like yours.

I got the ring off and the nut on the splined shaft (3rd photo) and now want to get the bowl together with the wheel off but it is stuck firmly. Do I need a puller or are there any other tricks?

[jeffc280sl]

Hi Alfred,

The shaft is tappered and the hub has been pressed down by the big nut and is now stuck.  Try some penetrating oil and then wiggle the wheel back and forth while pulling it off.  With your third hand gently tap a block of oak on top of the shaft with a hammer .

[Norm]

As a slight variation to Jeff's post above, I had a Nardi "stuck" on the shaft and while I wiggled and pulled, another leaned in and tapped the shaft with a hammer and punch.  It was pretty violent for a minute but it came off with no damage to anything.

Norm

[66andBlue]

Thanks Norm and Jeff.
I guess violence sometimes pays off - the punch and hammer method worked!