Sticky Steering Wheel

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Oct 20, 2010 | 06:25 PM

Lee C

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Joined: Apr 1999

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From: Central Ontario

Sticky Steering Wheel

I have a wheel of a C3 around 75 I guess Been sitting in a drawer in the house for about 20 years.What can be the cause of it feeling sticky tacky and is there a fix Thanks

Oct 20, 2010 | 08:49 PM

72LS1Vette

Safety Car

Joined: Aug 2001

Posts: 4,883

Likes: 11

From: North Easton Mass

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee C

I have a wheel of a C3 around 75 I guess Been sitting in a drawer in the house for about 20 years.What can be the cause of it feeling sticky tacky and is there a fix Thanks

Try using some Lacquer thinner on the wheel and see what comes off. I had (have) sticky parts all over the interior of the 72 and I'm guessing that it is due to a combination of ArmorAll and smoke/dirt. Simple Green doesn't touch it but thinner cleans it off after several applications.

Rick B.

Oct 20, 2010 | 08:49 PM

71406

Burning Brakes

Joined: Mar 1999

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From: CA

Mine did the same thing. Not sure why. If i recall i used a diluted solution of simple green. I use that stuff for everything.

Oct 20, 2010 | 09:17 PM

stevelischynsky

Burning Brakes

Joined: Aug 2004

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There was a thread on this about a year ago. This seems to be a common problem with no difinitive solution. This is a result of plastic volitiles leaching out of the plastic. The best the thread could come up with was to mask it with Armoural or some other plastic type cleaner. Even then it is only a temporary solution.

Oct 20, 2010 | 10:03 PM

Skip Burney

Burning Brakes

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From: Brooklet Ga.

Mine was really bad, someone had put some kind of cover on it and it was just terrible. I used a clean rag with some MEK and lightly went over the wheen and it is clean as new now.

Oct 20, 2010 | 10:16 PM

Lee C

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From: Central Ontario

Thank you everyone

Oct 20, 2010 | 11:06 PM

AzMotorhead

Limping across the line

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From: Peoria Az

I have read here that lanolin works without drying out the wheel

Oct 23, 2010 | 06:54 PM

Lee C

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Joined: Apr 1999

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From: Central Ontario

Tried the Armour all and it seemed to work Put it on Kijiji sold it for $80 Thanks to all

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Oct 23, 2010 | 07:42 PM

gingerbreadman1977

Drifting

Joined: Apr 2006

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From: gold coast queensland

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee C

Tried the Armour all and it seemed to work Put it on Kijiji sold it for $80 Thanks to all

that will be the most sticky $80 he will ever spend..the sticky will come back in a few weeks like steve said

Oct 24, 2010 | 12:25 AM

#10

Lee C

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Joined: Apr 1999

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From: Central Ontario

Quote:

Originally Posted by gingerbreadman1977

that will be the most sticky $80 he will ever spend..the sticky will come back in a few weeks like steve said

I told the guy before he bought it Hope it works out for the dude

Dec 12, 2010 | 02:17 AM

#11

vette848

5th Gear

Joined: Dec 2010

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip Burney

Mine was really bad, someone had put some kind of cover on it and it was just terrible. I used a clean rag with some MEK and lightly went over the wheen and it is clean as new now.

What is MEK.Thanks

Dec 12, 2010 | 02:44 AM

#12

TimAT

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From: Gladstone MO

C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by vette848

What is MEK.Thanks

Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone
Bad azz stuff. Cleans anything, dilutes paint, softens plastic, causes liver damage and is absorbed thru skin. Really works great.

Dec 12, 2010 | 02:48 AM

#13

vette848

5th Gear

Joined: Dec 2010

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Quote:

Originally Posted by TimAT

Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone
Bad azz stuff. Cleans anything, dilutes paint, softens plastic, causes liver damage and is absorbed thru skin. Really works great.

Once it's dry and cleaned, all the hazzards are gone,right?....

Dec 12, 2010 | 08:37 AM

#14

Artsvette73

Drifting

Joined: Jan 2004

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From: Piscataway NJ

This was pretty normal back in the day with GM steering wheels. What ever you do, it will come back

Dec 12, 2010 | 10:17 AM

#15

TimAT

Le Mans Master

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From: Gladstone MO

C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019

Quote:

Originally Posted by vette848

Once it's dry and cleaned, all the hazzards are gone,right?....

Yep. But plastic may stay soft.

Dec 12, 2010 | 10:21 AM

#16

U17

Melting Slicks

Joined: Dec 2008

Posts: 2,070

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From: N.Richland Hills Texas

I've used Windex,ArmorAll ,Simple Green ... Like everyone say's "It comes back".. Good excuse to clean the wheel though....

Dec 12, 2010 | 03:43 PM

#17

Big Block 69

Racer

Joined: Jul 2007

Posts: 458

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From: Southeast Ohio

The guys who said "It WILL come back" are correct.
Warm soapy water has always worked well for me.
Until next time it sits for a while and needs to be cleaned again.

Dec 12, 2010 | 03:53 PM

#18

snoopykissedlucy

Pro

Joined: Apr 2008

Posts: 596

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From: Irving Texas

Forget the sticky steering wheel..........the door panel pull handles are the worst.
I tried Fast Orange and it works..... a little bit. The handles are now dull and slightly sticky.
Do the reporduction handles do the same thing? It will be worth buying new ones.