Steering Wheel Fitting

[Marshman 1360]

Looking at buying a new wheel for my herald know all the pitfalls of changing size, but the bus wheel needs to go. M`ost of the nice one2s on ebay are for a mini, what is the difference in the fitting and do i need a different bos ?  

[GarthT]

Hi Marshman,

I've just changed the 15" 'bus' steering wheel on my Vit, it was so skinny it was awful to hold, and so big it amplified every little bump on the road. I got a cheapy new one from eBay, Was about £45 but came with the horn press/boss and the Triumph logo in the middle. It's a 13" but I wouldn't recommend that size as it's just too damn small. I'd go for a 14". When I've measured mine it's barely 12.5". Apparently Minis use a different boss.

It came with the horn press and the hole in the boss for the horn brush, but I had to modify it by drilling the rivet out and adding a strip of metal so it came in contact with the horn pencil brush, like the original, then riveting it again, no big deal.

I found it easier to fit the boss first then attach the wheel with the smaller bolts, if it's a shiny chrome/leather one this'll stop you scratching the chrome.

Mine also had sharp rivets on the reverse of each of the three spokes holding the leather down, I kept catching my fingers on these when driving so I got a massive drill bit and very slightly countersunk the sharp centre bit off the rivet,

all sorted, but I think there may be a 'Used 13" steering wheel for Triumph' on eBay soon.

[Marshman 1360]

Thanks Garth nice to hear some else doesn't like the bus wheel.

[Casper]

Not sure about the Vitesse, but  believe the standard Herald wheel is 16", not the 15" that Garth talks about.  Measure yours so you have a reference point.
I have changed mine to 15" which is great for me. 14" I have used in the past.  13" is way too small for me.  Garth makes a good point in that the thickness/thinness of the rim is a significant factor in the 'feel'.
Steering column adjustment is also important.
So, whether you are looking for 15" or 14", the appropriate style is 'semi-dished'.
C.

[Pete Lewis]

if you really want a small wheel on  Herald to keep the loading better you could swap to a vitesse slower ratio  rack
I had a 13 on the Vit6 and felt two shreaded wheat where insufficient. 14 is better.
input shaft in herald  is plain spline,   the Vit rack has a groove /ring around the spline  to identify it as different ratio.

Pete