Keith66 Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Hi All Despite the wide variety of quality aftermaket wheels available i'd like to keep my original wheel. But the moulded rim doesn't look great after 45 years and is a little thin compared to modern cars. So i't like to refurbish mine, so I'll probably paint and lacquer the spokes and trim the wheel in leather. That way it will look good in leather, be abit thicker but still look original. But i can't do the leather trimming bit. Now i've seen some wheel refurbishers, for moder BMW's etc, on the net but was wondering if anyone has tried any of them, had good results and what sort of cost does it come at? Cheers Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Have a go yourself. I used a leather kit from Mr Steering (link below) for my standard 4A wheel and they also did me a custom size for another wheel. I'm a lousy needle worker but the results are pretty good if I say so myself. Just a bit of patience. The instructions provided plus a video help greatly. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-TRIUMPH-TR4-1961-1965-BLACK-BEST-QUALITY-REAL-LEATHER-STEERING-WHEEL-COVER-/260736236930?fits=Car+Make%3ATriumph%7CModel%3ATR+4&epid=1988159264&hash=item3cb5173d82:g:IJ0AAOxyzHxRNjHa Quote Link to post Share on other sites
barkerwilliams Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Keith, I see your West Midlands, visit Walsall leather Museum and make a few enquiries for a private commission. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keith66 Posted October 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 Alan Yes that was another thought, get a sadler to have a look and see what they can do, although i would expect someone who does steering wheels for a living would be more practised. Pete As for giving it a go myself, i'm not exactly confident in my skills in that area but if it were the only altenative or the pukka guys want silly money i might give i a go!! Cheers KEith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 If you've got an original leather covered wheel like 5s and 250s had the straightforward approach is to remove the original leather and fit/stitch a new cover in place. A quality upholstery guy made a couple of covers for me and ran them through his sewing machine at the closest hole setting, setting me up to simply cross stitch it on. It took about 3-4 hours but the result is excellent ( may post a pic monday; no access now ). He charged me about $60 each. Figure your hourly rate on top of that! He told me he did a favor for a Maserati owner charging him $500 to fabricate and fit a new cover and didn't want another commission like that. Cheers, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted October 7, 2017 Report Share Posted October 7, 2017 ...or you can simply cover the existing one with a WHEELSKIN brand cover which I've got on my driver. It's quite presentable but not original as such ( actually the feel is nicer with its thicker grip ). These are much easier to stitch as they've only got about 1/3 as many holes and normally aren't cross stitched. Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iani Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 Have a go yourself. I used a leather kit from Mr Steering (link below) for my standard 4A wheel and they also did me a custom size for another wheel. I'm a lousy needle worker but the results are pretty good if I say so myself. Just a bit of patience. The instructions provided plus a video help greatly. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FOR-TRIUMPH-TR4-1961-1965-BLACK-BEST-QUALITY-REAL-LEATHER-STEERING-WHEEL-COVER-/260736236930?fits=Car+Make%3ATriumph%7CModel%3ATR+4&epid=1988159264&hash=item3cb5173d82:g:IJ0AAOxyzHxRNjHa I know this is an old post, my wife has just sewn one of these covers on and there is near 1cm gap between the sides of the leather, the cover simply isn't wide enough, did you find this Pete? Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 I had no problems Ian. They were very helpful on my custom cover, have you tried speaking with them? I am sure they will help if the fit is that bad. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iani Posted August 18, 2018 Report Share Posted August 18, 2018 I had no problems Ian. They were very helpful on my custom cover, have you tried speaking with them? I am sure they will help if the fit is that bad. Thanks Pete. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chilewillie Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 Hi guys I am New to the forum and to TR ownership. I just bought a 1975 lhd Tr6 here in Chile that had been imported from the US. I am in the restoration period although it was in a very good shape. It has a Motolita Sood steering wheel but i would like to go back to the original type of steering wheel that I understand where leather. Where can i buy a good réplica of the original steering wheel in the uK? Many thanks for the help. Willie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 Hi guys I am New to the forum and to TR ownership. I just bought a 1975 lhd Tr6 here in Chile that had been imported from the US. I am in the restoration period although it was in a very good shape. It has a Motolita Sood steering wheel but i would like to go back to the original type of steering wheel that I understand where leather. Where can i buy a good réplica of the original steering wheel in the uK? Many thanks for the help. Willie I have a spare original if your interested, it has a good leather rim but the centre spokes have a little rust on the rear. Postage to Chile might be expensive though! Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iani Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 I have a spare original if your interested, it has a good leather rim but the centre spokes have a little rust on the rear. Postage to Chile might be expensive though! Stuart. Are you sure it's leather Stuart? I have two original wheels and they are both rubber rimmed. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chilewillie Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 I am interested i Will be in London in a couple of weeks so I can pick it up there. My email is wmullins@gmail.com so m€aybe you can send me a photo and we Fake it from there . Thanks willie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chilewillie Posted August 26, 2018 Report Share Posted August 26, 2018 I am interested i Will be in London in a couple of weeks so I can pick it up there. My email is wmullins@gmail.com so m€aybe you can send me a photo and we Fake it from there . Thanks willie Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Waldi Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) Hi Willie, You better not show personal data like mail adress and phone numbers on public forums like this. You can send a personal message (PM) to others on the forum, and provide those details in there. The PM system on this forum is in the top right corner. You can remove the phone number in your above posts by clicking on you post, change the text and then submit the modified post. Best regards, Waldi Edited August 27, 2018 by Waldi Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Are you sure it's leather Stuart? I have two original wheels and they are both rubber rimmed. Ian Yes definitely is. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
iani Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Yes definitely is. Stuart. Here's one of mine, looks identical to yours, after wasting time trying to clean & rejuvenate it with leather care products I realised that it's actually made of rubber. My other wheel is older, black spoked, the rubber on it has even pitted, I can't take a pic as I've put a leather cover on it. Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Marc R Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 wheel.jpeg Here's one of mine, looks identical to yours, after wasting time trying to clean & rejuvenate it with leather care products I realised that it's actually made of rubber. My other wheel is older, black spoked, the rubber on it has even pitted, I can't take a pic as I've put a leather cover on it. Ian Same experience w/ the steering wheel of my TR6 PI CP '71., Regards Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keith66 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Hi All As i started this one thought i'd better put my 2peneth in. My wheel looks identical, to Stuarts but i'm 99.9% sure its moulded plastic, hence wanting to cover it. But looking at both Stuarts and Ians pic's they "look" thicker than mine feel's. Now i say it like that cuz looking at my pic, its looks the same but it def feels thin compared to modern wheels. At some point i'm going to drop it in to a saddler, I live near Walsall so lots of leather workers round here, and see what they can do. Cheers Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tom Fremont Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 I would suggest to fit an earlier wheel, or fabricate a leather cover for the rubber one maximizing the number of stiches ( crossed, preferably ). The rubber wheel is an obvious downgrade from the earlier ones, and a leather version a forgivable deviation from original IMO. Cheers, Tom Quote Link to post Share on other sites
super6al Posted August 27, 2018 Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Hi all - I think mine is also rubber ('74). Also the centre feels the same material with fake stitching - has anyone refurbished this part, mine has faded badly. Alan Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Keith66 Posted August 27, 2018 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2018 Hi All So any spec experts out there? Was a leather wheel an original fitment and if so what was the changover date to the placky ones? Mine is a V early Jan 72 so made late 71. Cheers Keith Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phil J Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 Hi, Im looking for a 1970 / 71 TR6 original steering wheel, I believe it's the version with the long slots finished with black spokes, does anyone have one for sale with either black or silver spokes ? thanks Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cvtrian Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 41 minutes ago, Phil J said: Hi, Im looking for a 1970 / 71 TR6 original steering wheel, I believe it's the version with the long slots finished with black spokes, does anyone have one for sale with either black or silver spokes ? thanks Hi Phil, will send a pm in a minute when I have sorted an image Ian Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mark69 Posted March 23, 2020 Report Share Posted March 23, 2020 Hi Keith, Have you tried Aldridge trimmers, Wolverhampton. They recovered a steering wheel on car so's. Mark. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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