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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324  
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A package arrived from Optimill today, so I thought I'd press on and fit it straight away. Their removable steering wheel boss kit comprises the two halves of the boss itself, a wheel centre cap, which I won't be using, and a small packet of fixings:
 Click image to enlarge It also includes a set of generic instructions that's heavy on the dire warnings and abdication of responsibility  :
Click image to enlarge The first step is to fit the indicator cancelling pins to the back of the boss, which involves a few gentle taps with a small hammer: Click image to enlarge With the steering wheel removed and both halves of the boss locked together, I mounted the complete assembly on the steering column: Click image to enlarge It was then a relatively simple task to fix the wheel to the boss. The kit includes six counter-sunk Allen bolts for this purpose but the one at the 9 o'clock position wouldn't screw all of the way in, for some reason. After a bit of trial and error, I eventually realised that two of the bolts are slightly shorter, for use in the holes that are over the release mechanisms
Click image to enlarge The removable part of the boss on the rear of the steering wheel, clearly showing the two large aluminium pins that are pulled outwards to release it. These are easily reached with hands on the wheel at the 9 o'clock and 3 o'clock positions: Click image to enlarge And the column with the wheel removed: Click image to enlarge Eventually, I'll almost certainly end up with the matching column lock from Optimill, too. In the meantime though, it all works exactly as expected and there's no hint of movement between the two halves of the boss. Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia Last edited by LandRoverAnorak on 10th Aug 2019 3:15pm. Edited 2 times in total |
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31st Jul 2019 8:43pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5192
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I would put the centre cap on it, just to make it look neater if possible, I have done and it doesn't get in the way at all. Also its another step for them to take to get it the boss off too.
But it is a cracking piece of kit, I should have got one for the other defender but it is what it is on that one now. We have moved forwards  Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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31st Jul 2019 9:13pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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The cap fits to the wheel but is hidden on the Startech model that I have. There's a picture a few posts up. As the wheel will be removed though, the cap won't add any security benefit. Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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31st Jul 2019 9:19pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5192
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My wheel hides the centre cap too,
Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge This one was a horn model wheel, i have to say though, just as well i dont use that feature, because i have had to reglue the bit leatheret centre piece down again, so just as well i didnt pay £100 quid plus for it! other wise id have been well  ! Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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31st Jul 2019 10:30pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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So, having driven a few miles with it this morning, has anybody come up with a cunning way to avoid the reflections of the locking pins being visible in the windscreen?
Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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1st Aug 2019 11:30am |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17450 
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No, but you'll stop noticing them in a fairly short time.
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1st Aug 2019 12:19pm |
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| boxoftricks Member Since: 06 Feb 2019 Location: Home Counties Posts: 747 
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Quick squirt with some black matt paint would solve that |
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1st Aug 2019 12:23pm |
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| Procta Member Since: 03 Dec 2016 Location: Sunderland Posts: 5192
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I never noticed that at all, but then again I am a short arse  Defender TD5 90 ---/--- Peugeot 306 HDI hatch back
Success is 90% Inspiration and 4 minutes Preparation # you can make it! |
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1st Aug 2019 2:20pm |
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| williamthedog Member Since: 29 Dec 2012 Location: south wales Posts: 3441 
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Like already said you will get used to the reflection and won't notice it that much.
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1st Aug 2019 6:55pm |
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| Sulisuli Member Since: 30 Oct 2016 Location: South west Posts: 4795 
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I have never noticed it either but will be looking out for it now ha ha
 2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90 2000 XS TD5 90 |
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1st Aug 2019 8:17pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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It may well come to that  Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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1st Aug 2019 9:17pm |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I recently bought a set of Huttopia's rather splendid billet aluminium hinge blocks to replace the originals, as the paint on the latter was starting to bubble, despite being resprayed about eighteen months ago.
As delivered, they have a matt black, anodised finish: Click image to enlarge I wasn't keen on that so decided to spray them in body colour, as per the originals: Click image to enlarge Click image to enlarge This was achieved by prepping them with some 1200 grit wet and dry, giving them a couple of coats of etch primer, two more of regular primer, two top coats and a final coat of clear lacquer, all from rattle cans. The 1200 grit was used again between each coat except the final top coat and the lacquer. I'm very pleased with the final result: Click image to enlarge Huttopia very kindly includes a set of standard cardboard gaskets with his blocks, but I've always thought that their performance as gaskets was pretty poor. They also don't line up particularly well with the bolt holes: Click image to enlarge I therefore decided to make my own from some thin rubber sheet. It was a relatively simple task to draw around the blocks and cut them out with scissors. The holes were measured and then cut out with a scalpel: Click image to enlarge They were then positioned on the hinge blocks and held in place with a couple of very small dabs of superglue: Click image to enlarge When it came to fitting, I tackled the drivers side first. I mentioned above that the original blocks had already been repainted, which included the windscreen frame and was just before I collected the vehicle. When I removed this block, I was dismayed to find that it had obviously been re-fitted before the paint had dryed and removing the cardboard gasket took off some of the paint, too: Click image to enlarge There was a hint of corrosion within the bolt hole through the frame and the middle bolt, that passes through the top of the bulkhead was also quite crusty. I cleaned it all up as best I could but the paintwork will require some more attention in the near future. As a stopgap though, I taped over the three holes on the outside and then squirted Dinitrol into them from inside: Click image to enlarge I then replaced the bolts with stainless ones: Click image to enlarge And finished them off with some black caps: Click image to enlarge The passenger side was in much better condition, with no corrosion or damaged paint, but basically received the same treatment: Click image to enlarge And them both together, looking pretty much the same as when I started, except now I know they won't corrode again as soon as I look away: Click image to enlarge Darren 110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia Last edited by LandRoverAnorak on 4th Mar 2021 11:10am. Edited 1 time in total |
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3rd Aug 2019 9:49pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7907 
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Great work! Look original which I like unlike some if the others on offer. Hopefully they'll last a little longer! James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641 MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557 Instagram @suffolk_rovers |
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3rd Aug 2019 10:10pm |
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| Sulisuli Member Since: 30 Oct 2016 Location: South west Posts: 4795
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Tidy work and nice results
2015 HT XS 90
2008 SVX 90 2000 XS TD5 90 |
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3rd Aug 2019 10:12pm |
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