I've had a number of comments/questions about my anti-theft
device/practice of removing my steering wheel.
1. Wear is a concern though I've not had any problems yet. I keep the
shaft greased and remove the wheel only in "high risk areas" such as
malls. I rarely drive it to those places for fear of paint damage from
inconsiderate a**holes who can't or won't control their doors so this is
not a frequent occurrence.
2. Sometimes I take it with me, sometimes I check it at the desk,
sometimes I slide it up in the footwell, sometimes I put it in the
trunk. I attended a church service in downtown Atlanta a few weeks ago
and slid it under the pew.
The culture here in the South, especially in the circles I prefer to
travel in, is quite conducive to and somewhat appreciative of such
behavior. Gear-heads abound. A number of folks have had MGs -
including the foreman of the tree crew that removed a huge pine that was
left hanging over my house after a storm last April. Now there was one
of the goodest of the good ol' boys I've met down here. The octagon is
a real ice breaker. They'll spit 'baccer juice on Miata's from the cabs
of their pickups but give a big ol' "Yeah baby" at an LBC. If they get
do get nasty - I bring out the GN and kick butt.
I digress - because of the wear factor I would not recommend removing
the steering wheel as an SOP but it can provide a sense of comfort at
times. I should mention I've got one of Moss's $300 walnut & aluminum
wheels so removal serves a dual purpose.
ralph cordell
'59 MGA
'84 Turbo Regal
'87 Grand National
'96 Roadmonster
.
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Carl Franklin [SMTP:carlf@dustdevil.com]
> Sent: Thursday, June 04, 1998 1:12 PM
> To: Cordell, Ralph PhD
> Subject: Re: simple anti-theft device
>
>
>
> >I have one of the simpler and perhaps most effective anti-theft
> devices
> >on my '59 MGA. I slide the steering wheel out and take it with me.
> >They may figure out how to start it and even be able to get it
> started
> >but they will have a heck of a time changing directions. ;-)
>
>
> ROTFL!!
>
> So you're the guy at the mall walking around with a
> steering wheel in his hand. :-)
>
> Seriously, do you lock it in the trunk?
>
> Also, does constantly removing it and putting it
> back wear down the lands on the column? I'd
> think after awhile it would begin to wear down
> and you'd start getting some play in the steering
> wheel.
>
> Carl Franklin
> carlf@dustdevil.com -- Home PC
> franklin@mg.cloudccc.cc.ks.us -- Office PC
> http://www.geocities.com/wallstreet/4199
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