Talk Morgan Forums Morgan Sports Cars Classic Morgans (pre-CX) Steering wheel boss

I have a walnut rimmed, offset Motolita steering wheel with a six stud fixing to the boss. I think that this wheel has been with the car (2001+8) since new but Motilita believe that at this time the nine stud fixing was generally in use, the six stud not being available for Morgans for many many years.
I would prefer a leather rimmed steering wheel but a six stud fixing is not available now. An offset spec together with the necessary change of boss starts to become an expensive option and I wondered in the first instance whether anyone else had come across this situation?

Without checking admittedly, I believe that the O/E Morgan leather steering wheel is a six-bolt Astrali which might fit the Moto Lita boss. The crash pad can be removed easily and a suitable horn button sourced. There must be scores of discarded O/E wheels kicking around dealers showrooms so it should be easy to check.

Could Mota-Lita take your existing wheel, strip off the wood and turn it into a leather rim?

Just a thought, probably stupid.

Yes, me on my last 2000 Morgan

I just bought a standard 9 hole Moto Lita steering wheel and redrilled it for the 6 holes - quite straight forward really as the aluminium is nice and soft to drill

I’ll try and find the photos and post on here

Would a leather cover work if you can find one? I have one on my '60. The original Bluemels wheel is cream and the many cracks are filled with now discolored epoxy. The guy who rebuilt the car in the 80s fitted a leather cover to mask the cracks and match the new leather interior. You have to look hard to see that it is a cover, not a leather wheel. And it feels great.

I have an OE six-bolt wheel spare.

Many thanks all for your swift responses. Much food for thought in your advice which I will now consider but I am now wondering whether the Moto Lita wheel was made especially for this car.
I will still be looking for the offset wheel but thank you, BobTT, for letting me know that you have a spare wheel.
It may sound daft but I have also considered binding the wheel in string in the fashion of the vintage racers. I tried a section but I thought that it looked a little bit too mannered. I don't sail but I found lots of good advice about this technique from sailing websites and noticed that it is called coxcombing and that there were many different traditional patterns for yacht wheels.
I have slightly arthritic finger joints and I am looking for a thicker rim and more comfortable connection between the rim and the spoke which the leather wheels provide. Thanks again.

Here are the photos Rob

I started off with a leather offset but wanted a larger wood rimmed wheel so I just bought a new Moto Lita and redrilled it for the 6 hole boss then reused the old top ring - I sprayed my top ring black to give it a bit of contrast but regretted it as it chipped so keep it polished

Thank you for posting the photos Stewart. Interesting solution and nice wheel even if it does obscure the vertically positioned warning lights!

Hi Rob,

Heart of England has a Motolite Boss Kit that will fit your +8, it's located in 'Sale Clearance' on page 2 for £99

Hope this will help.

David, 2001 4/4