Sticky Steering Wheel???
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 83
From: Norfolk Virginia
Sticky Steering Wheel???
So the steering wheel in my 71 has turned all sticky, like the vinyl is melting. Have any of you experienced this? what is going on with it? I'm afraid it is going to happen to the dash pad, which is original and perfect. What can I do?
Dean
Dean
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Last edited by Eddie 70; Feb 8, 2015 at 08:48 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 1,037
Likes: 14
From: Mobile Alabama
I had one go sticky, and tried a number of things. Never did get it to stop and replaced it. If all else fails, (before getting rid of it, or recovering) I would try boiling it in water for 20min or so. Yea, I know it sounds stupid, but it works to bring life back to several hard "plastics". I just don't know if it would help this soft coating.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
That 76 I had with Vega wheel did it bad, it was gross,
I tried like every product I had for cleaning and protecting plastic, ( I have a lot, I dig testing products ) nothing killed that nasty feel, I did one of the lace on covers...done.
I tried like every product I had for cleaning and protecting plastic, ( I have a lot, I dig testing products ) nothing killed that nasty feel, I did one of the lace on covers...done.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I had the same thing on my '76 and somehow my wife got it off. Unfortunately she passed away so I can't ask her what she used. What I do know is that she didn't use any of the automotive vinyl products. I just looked at the cleaning products I still have on the shelf and there is a spray can of "Tuff Stuff" that says it cleans carpets, fabric and vinyl. The other things she may have used are the usual Lysol, Spic and Span, 409, and Murphy's Oil Soap. I guess she could have also used Dawn dishwashing soap.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 412
Likes: 25
From: Sultry Steamy Muggy Humid Texas Gulf Coast
I had the same thing on my '76 and somehow my wife got it off. Unfortunately she passed away so I can't ask her what she used. What I do know is that she didn't use any of the automotive vinyl products. I just looked at the cleaning products I still have on the shelf and there is a spray can of "Tuff Stuff" that says it cleans carpets, fabric and vinyl. The other things she may have used are the usual Lysol, Spic and Span, 409, and Murphy's Oil Soap. I guess she could have also used Dawn dishwashing soap.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,607
Likes: 7,053
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 83
From: Norfolk Virginia
I had the same thing on my '76 and somehow my wife got it off. Unfortunately she passed away so I can't ask her what she used. What I do know is that she didn't use any of the automotive vinyl products. I just looked at the cleaning products I still have on the shelf and there is a spray can of "Tuff Stuff" that says it cleans carpets, fabric and vinyl. The other things she may have used are the usual Lysol, Spic and Span, 409, and Murphy's Oil Soap. I guess she could have also used Dawn dishwashing soap.
Good Luck.
Good Luck.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 15,154
Likes: 477
From: NM
Do a search for Sticky Steering Wherl in the C3 General section. Seems that this comes up about every 3 months. Looks like there is no real solution as it is the plastic decomposing. Seems that the best results were with a deluted Simple Green solution (4 parts water, 1 part Simple Green).
Tom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 3,363
Likes: 32
From: Bowtie, Pennsyltucky
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15,'21
My whole interior was like that when I bought my car, it was even green and fuzzy! I tried everything with no luck, when my friend's wife gave me some swimming pool liner cleaner to try. As soon as I sprayed it on, that sticky stuff ran right off. Wiped it again, then scrubbed it off with Dawn dish soap and the stickiness has never returned, even ten years later.
Last edited by Mick71; Feb 9, 2015 at 02:14 PM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 315
Likes: 5
From: Sheboygan Wisconsin
I had the same thing happen to my '74. After trying several products to clean it, I sent my wheel to Chuck Pelton and had it covered in leather. Chuck added some padding to increase the diameter of the wheel. I had this done in 2009 and the wheel is just like new today. If you're interested in having Chuck cover your wheel, you can phone him at: 248-681-4336. If you mention that you are a Forum member, they will quote you wholesale pricing.
Be sure to tell them the color of your interior as they will use the correct leather to match it.
Mike
Be sure to tell them the color of your interior as they will use the correct leather to match it.
Mike
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,389
Likes: 83
From: Norfolk Virginia
OK.....so I went out and pulled the wheel off, soaked a clean rag with mineral spirits and went around it several times, took off lots O funk. Next I took it into the sink and scrubbed it with dawn, it still doesn't feel right. I'll pick up some simple green on my home tomorrow and give that a try....we'll see. I'll let y'all know how it comes out.
Thanks for all the helpful responses, I appreciate it. The leather cover looks like real nice alternative, thanks for that info.
Thanks for all the helpful responses, I appreciate it. The leather cover looks like real nice alternative, thanks for that info.
