Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Maintenance & Servicing Steering wheel is sweating oil

Hello all,

My car (66 Plus 4 RHD) has what I believe to be it’s original steering wheel, a lovely Bluemels Brooklands wheel. The material of the wheel, not sure if it’s hard rubber or Bakelite, or some other synthetic, has cracked in a few places. Is ok, so have I. But the steering wheel material sweats an oil. I have to wipe it down well with a dry paper towel, to be safe for driving.

Does anyone else experience this?

I assume the material is somehow made with the oil to start with. Is this a sign that it’s breaking down further and make crack off while driving?

Thoughts?

Thanks, Nelson

I don't know but I think it may well be breaking down in some way and after 53 years service I would definitely get a similar replacement and put the old one up on the garage wall somewhere knowing you have a safe steering wheel to drive with but keep your old companion.

Sounds like a smart plan.

We have a couple of Chemists on here that maybe will tell us exactly what is happening to the structure of the wheel.

Plastics contain plasticizers. They are supposed to keep the plastic elastic over time. Some can diffuse out.
Plasticizers used in the past have sometimes been found to be harmful to health (e.g. diethylhexyl phthalate, DEHP).
I would change the steering wheel.

I saw on one of the TV car restoration programmes a specialist renewing the man made material of steering wheel rim from an old car. He had a variety of moulds to suit most designs. When clamped on fresh plastic of some sort was injected in. Maybe worth investigating.

I have the same wheel and it's not gone anything like this. As Richard says as they're still available I'd replace it.

I'd give these guys a call..

https://www.steeringwheelrestoration.co.uk

As said it could be the plasticiser leaking out. These are not nice compounds. Replace it.

The Bluemels wheels were made of a Bakelite-like cellulose and do eventually break down. They can be filled with tinted epoxy. Mine has been filled and has a leather cover sewn on. I am not familiar with the weeping oil issue you describe, but have no clue how cellulose deteriorates.
You don't say what color wheel you have. They were made in cream, black, and marbled brown/cream. The 17" wheel you probably have is currently made in resin and only available in black.
This article may be of interest:
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/content.php?548-RESTORING-A-VINTAGE-BLUEMEL-STEERING-WHEEL

This link may be of interest..?

http://www.allardregister.org/blog/2009/9/26/bluemels-brooklands-steering-wheels.html

My steering wheel is black.

It does seem that whatever my wheel is exuding, probably isn’t a healthy compound to have on my skin.
As my car is an awesome driver, while I strive for originality, I’ll put safety first.

I’ll investigate the restore option and see what that’s like.

I did see the Allard site (would love me a J2 to go alongside my Morgan, but perhaps in the next life). I also saw a few folks restore them on YouTube. One guy epoxied the cracks and gaps, sanded and painted. Another made a mold, and then set the spokes in the mold and casted a new one. Both looked do-able for the experienced builder/mechanic. What I didn’t see was the stripping method. I’ll bet it’s relatively easy to chip the stuff off.

That all said, or restore is the way to go, I’ll probably outsource. Am busy right now and wouldn’t want to derail months of driving opportunities while I try and build expertise in doing this job right.

Thanks all, I’ll let you know how it ends up.