SOME SATURDAY MORNING SMARTS

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:10 am

For those of you who think your Wood Steering Wheel just has to be original to your CCKWX or any of the mid 42 and earlier CCKW Series, think again, as it just did not happen, they came with the OD Color hard rubber Steering Wheel, and I'll wager that your steering gear is not original to your truck. The early CCKW series came with a lighter duty set up that had a smaller OD Sector shaft, the spline diameter was smaller also, if you check it out you will find that you have the larger shaft sticking out thru your chassis. I hate to bust bubbles, but many of the CCKWX trucks were updated to the heavier duty Steering gear. Many who have changed their steering gear have found that their Pitman Arm did not match their replacement Gear. (I have Gov't Rebuilt Steering Gears in stock, they are a good seller. (best customers are not collectors, but the ones that actually work their trucks in the woods) If you want to flash thru all the TMs to check, feel free as this is your homework assignment. I already know the answer, most or you do not. This has been common knowledge since the 40s. They only made 562,000 of these, and a lot of upgrades happened to them as the war progressed. There were dozens of Ordnance Depots, and support units from Ordnance 5th Echelon Maint. down to Second Echelon Maintenance at the Unit Level, with thousands of mechanics involved. There were some items that were reserved for the Ordnance types to repair, and some that was OK for the unit mechanics to do. It is sort of intereting to observe the first time MV owners take on "why their truck is" and "why it must be"
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Sat May 28, 2005 10:13 am

Thanks for the update information. I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend, and this goes for all of you guys out there.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Sun May 29, 2005 3:05 pm

My 44 or 45 Kompressor truck has a steel rimmed steering wheel that I am told was only on the Engineering trucks.

Anyone know?

Thanks
Steve AKA Dr Deuce

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Sun May 29, 2005 6:40 pm

Looking through the different sources I've notice at least three types of wooden wheels,the two I had both had a cast iron center section,with different rivets holding the wood to the spokes,but I've also seen the center section which is made from sevral pieces riveted to a central hub. So which type was correct,or were all of them found on factory trucks. Like many people with these trucks I know what I want,even if my truck didn't leave the GM factory that way I'm sure some wheres during the war there was a truck just like what I want.

rgus · Post by **rgus** » Sun May 29, 2005 7:29 pm

The cast center was the earlist one. The later riveted center was a production expediant.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Sun May 29, 2005 10:05 pm

There are two Wooden Wheels with the solid non riveted center portion, one has diamond shaped rivets attaching the wood to slender spokes, another has round head rivets attaching the wood,and it has fatter spokes. I believe you will find that there was more than one manufacturer of the wooden steering wheel. I have been around the CCKW business since the 40s and have witnessed three types of wood wheels on the Open and closed cab GMC. TM 9-1801, Page 260, has a Wood Wheel with the rivited spokes on the early open cab depicted, I have other manuals that show the rubber wheel on the early open cab. I believe there is evidence of the three styles of wooden steering wheels being used in early and late open cab GMCs, I have a lot of GMC manuals and wartime photos floating around here , and have seen enough surplus GMCs over the years to feel comfortable enough to make this claim. Now all you guys have to do is just go out and find every conceiveable manual, and WWII picture book, plus read all of Bryces articles, and have an open mind when you browse Beckers' GMC book, as it is laced with CCKWs owned by collectors, and you have to sort of reason out which photos are US GI and which are private owned trucks. Some even have the 18" wheel, and those will not be WWII US Army photos.
Joel

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Sun May 29, 2005 10:10 pm

Since there is such an interest in steering wheels I have put up a page on the site to graphically show all the wheels.

http://www.cckw.org/steering_wheels.htm

Please ad you input in photos and comments for the wheels not shown.

All I have is wood wheels....

Bill

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Mon May 30, 2005 12:35 pm

Speaking of steering wheels: This AM I used the 'military steering puller' I bought on Ebay a few years ago.

It is a little tricky to use without damaging the horn wire.

What Seemed to work well was to remove the horn ring, nut and washer/cup under the nut. I then reinstalled the nut so that it was mostly on but had not hit the bottom yet. I then made sure the horn wire was in the proper position and then used a couple of large nuts (the size of the nut holding the wheel on) and a very short bolt inside the nut to give the remover something to push on. The bolt was short enough so that it did not hit the button wire. Wheel made a semi-loud bang as it popped up to the nut. I did this on 2 wheels and it worked fine.

Has anyone tried repairing the non-wood steering wheels themselves? I know that there are places listed in Hemmings that will restore them for you too.

Thanks
Steve AKA Dr Deuce

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:13 pm

Steve, was this the same puller shown in the April 44 manual? A jointed ring that goes under the wheel then a puller on top.? Bobc

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Mon May 30, 2005 1:29 pm

No it is not. The one you refer to looks like a gear puller with an adapter ring that goes under the steering wheel that allows the gear puller to latch onto.

The one I have is just like a big C that goes from on top to below. There were two adapters to fit different sized columns.

Steve AKA Dr Deuce

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Mon May 30, 2005 8:28 pm

Treven Baker made a comment on 18" Steering wheels on another website that lit a bulb in my mind. He mentioned that his M-6 Bomb Service Truck used the 18" Steering Wheel, as there was not clearance to use the 20". It jarred my memory. Treven has a Chev M6, I don't, and I never would have connected the 18" wheel without his comment. I am sure that many of us who have sat in the M6 Bomb Service Truck have noticed something different about the wheel, and have never given it a second thought. An operator back when these were an Issue vehicle would have known, but 50 years later, these are a rare vehicle, and by chance, Treven adds a piece of the Puzzle. Thanks Treven.
I tool a few moments to research the Part Number for the M-6 Steering Wheel, and have found that it has a Part Number IMD 753841 (Inland Machine Division of General Motors) I have a couple of books that show M-6 Parts. The Standard 4X4 Chevrolet lists the wheel as GM 2105524,(Hard Rubber 3 spoke) superseded by IMD 754473 . (No GM Number shows for the second wheel)
The CCKW had two Steering Wheels that show in the Parts Books GM 2105524, and GM 2178393 that supercedes it. The latter must be the Wood Version. Chevrolet 4X4 and CCKW shared these two numbers.
I have a Hard Rubber 18" Wheel that Has been on our shelves for 50+ years, and is tagged Chevrolet Bomb Service. It was on a Chev 4X4 Steering Gear that I sold 35 years ago.
Now if we only had a CMP Parts Manual.
Joel

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Mon May 30, 2005 10:24 pm

I have the 18" wooden wheel on my Bomb Truck. With the smaller wheel, it was tough with the 9x20 tires. It steers much nicer with the correct ND 7.50 x 20's now...

18" Canadian part numbers:

3651085 should be the plastic/rubber compound,
2180707 should be wood or
252993 could be wood or special artic wheel

Steve

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Mon May 30, 2005 11:48 pm

Now all we have to do is find a bunch of M6 Bomb service Trucks to go with the 18" steering wheels. So far, I have a good start, I have an 18" Rubber Steering Wheel, and a NOS M1 Bomb Lift Truck with accessories
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Tue May 31, 2005 8:38 am

Just think how bad off you would be if your CCKW had no steering wheel.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Tue May 31, 2005 9:53 am

No Prob, as I also have a 5th type of 20" Steering Wheel, a NOS Four Spoke Plastic GMC made of Shiny Black Tenite that just will go right on the CCKW/Chev 4X4 and uses the same Horn Button. It is GI Issue, and was surplused at Leterkenny about 35 years ago.This is up for grabs @$390.00 as it is soooooo rare.I would be willing to trade for a Wooden 20" wheel in same NOS condition. We all should send PICs of our steering Wheels, engrave ID Numbers on them, and start a registry in case any are "borrowed", if you know what I mean. And NO it ain't M-Series, it have a keyed hole. We are facing hard times in the Steering Wheel market. 60 Years, remember? I bought my NOS OD Hard Rubber CCKW steering wheels from Willinskys in 84 @ $25 bucks ea., they were there from 1916 to 85 or 86, and are gone now, had a big liquidation, they also had NOS CCKW headlight buckets for $15.00 ea, and NOS Radiators for $100.00.
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Tue May 31, 2005 1:07 pm

A smart man plans ahead. Joel made the right moves when the stuff was available and now probably has the only supply of some rare CCKW items in the world. Great job Joel.

The GMC CCKW

SOME SATURDAY MORNING SMARTS

SOME SATURDAY MORNING SMARTS

Steering wheels again

steering wheel puller