JowettTalk

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/classic-car- ... Sw7vxbhuZs

It looks like it to my untutored eye and it’s infinitely better condition than mine so I’m interested...

No it is not a Jowett wheel. Looks something like a Morris Oxford to me. Where the auction wheel measures 11cm across, the Javelin wheel is only 8.5cm. (just nipped out for a quick measure up).

By the way, I don't know what age car you have but note that at first Javelin steering wheels had a key way but later wheels were splined. It is not at all unusual to find early cars fitted with later steering boxes and vice versa so worth a check if you have not done so already.

Nick

Cheers that’s really helpful. Mine is the keyed type (and is the other style) but I suspect via the club is the best way of sourcing a better wheel.

Regards,
Jonathan

Good wheels are hard to come by as the resin deteriorates. They can be recoated. See topics in JT.

Thanks Keith. Alas the gentleman who ran ‘Wheelwrights’ in Morecambe has passed away however I have had good reports about a Kent based firm called steering wheel restorations. I could try and DIY but the rim is very badly cracked with pieces missing.

I pulled my wheel out to examine, it’s definitely beyond a DIY repair and would need recasting.

If anyone has a better wheel I would be interested (I don’t mind if its cracked and needs some love but not totally destroyed like mine!)

JCS or another member should have a better wheel, but take off all the resin, clean up the metal and see what condition it is in. If not too bad then consider refurb.
A mold can be made from a good wheel, the molding can be tidied up and painted. Some have even reproduced the marble effect of some originals.

John Morgan from the shop turns your wheel into a wooden-rimmed wheel.

Keith's suggestion is good, for smaller cracks JBWeld Steelstik is recommended, I suspect an epoxy liquid would be the
way to go with making the entire rim via a mold. Yours is certainly saveable.

A good "as new" wheel is expensive.

Many thanks

I have a wooden wheel in mahogony made by the late Ben Shaw. Beautiful but is was not allowed for racing because of splinters. Mind you you can get some nasty splinters off a deteriorating original! I have a leather cover for such an eventuallity. I had a remoulded wheel that I think ended up on Peter Pfister's Jav.

Hi,

I had a Javelin that was in a lock-up for some years ( now rescued and back on the road, but that's another story ). Her steering wheel deteriorated and the original plastic seemed to dissolve into a nasty 'goo' that dripped onto the seat below. I have been told that wheels have been remoulded by using the plastics employed by dentists to fashion false teeth! But, as Keith says, a steering wheel glove in soft leather masks a lot of the problems.

However, I do know that there is a huge difference in the smart appearance of a 'Hunting Horn' wheel with the 'full view' spoke arrangement with a black rim, compared with the older 120 degree spoke arrangement! Chalk and cheese! If you have a good one, look after it, but I suspect strong sunlight does't help? It's probably all down to the chemical stabilisers used in the original moulding process, but I am no chemist!

All the best and looking forward to freedom!

David

Was the "hunting horn" a Jowett part or were they aftermarket?
I am still looking for one with no success.

I think they were provided by Jowett to celebrate a rally victory . An Archive search revealed an advert selling one in Dec 2004 Jowetteer Page 27. Amazing what you can find on JowettTalk!