[DeTomaso] Quick Release Steering Wheel

[MikeLDrew at aol.com]

In a message dated 5/9/12 13 34 35, asajay at asajay.com writes:


> There are pros and cons to various styles and mechanisms.  Many years 
> ago, Mike Drew experienced a negative affect of one particular style 
> while driving.  He should tell us the story again as it may have a 
> bearing on your decision.  Nothing like driving down the street with 
> the steering wheel in your hand.... but not attached to the car.
> 
> Mike?
> 

Ah yes.   Steve Mooney had the LeCarra setup in his Pantera (which is sold 
by Hall, Byars, Quella etc.)   The steering wheel has a central button you 
depress to lift the wheel away from the hub.   The wheel is located by three 
pins on the hub which engage three holes on the back of the wheel.

I hopped into his car and started driving through the streets of San 
Francisco.   We came to a street corner, I turned the wheel to make a right turn, 
and the car started turning and then went straight!   Fortunately we were 
going very slowly and it was easy to stop.

The wheel had latched when Steve installed it, but the pins weren't lined 
up, so the wheel was free to rotate relative to the hub.   It was rather 
difficult to get the wheel off, then line it up and install it again, but after 
that everything was fine.

Lori has this same setup in her Pantera and we've only removed the wheel 
once or twice.   The only annoyance is that the center button rattles all the 
time, and slowly rotates as you're driving, so the De Tomaso logo is never 
right-side-up.

I haven't yet convinced her to get rid of it, but for a price maybe she'd se
ll it and just revert to a standard hub?

Mike