Shade Tree Rehab For A Cub Steering Wheel
If your steering wheel has been sitting in the sun and rain for the past 50 years or so, the black rubber grip is probably much the worse for wear. Your choices are fairly limited:
This tape is designed to wrap electrical connections and form a water-tight seal. But as a cover for the weather-beaten Cub steering wheel, it is great! The images below show my steering wheel after being out in the weather for about 18 months. [I don't yet have a Cub Shed, but that is about to change.] The tape shows no sign of failure or decay.
This is a close up of the wrap on the steering wheel.
This is the entire wheel, dismounted so I can paint the spokes and hub.
Depending on the condition of the steering wheel, these are the steps I would follow to rehab the old, but still sound wheel.
It takes longer to read this than it takes to wrap the wheel. And if the wraps do not meet your level of perfection, cut them off with a razor blade or sharp utility knife and start over. The tape can be found at any electrical supply store or at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.
After seeing how well this tape is holding up to the weather, I may even try to wrap the shift knob...
I would appreciate any feedback you have. This link will take you to the Feedback thread: Shade Tree Feedback
If your steering wheel has been sitting in the sun and rain for the past 50 years or so, the black rubber grip is probably much the worse for wear. Your choices are fairly limited:
- Buy a new reproduction steering wheel. This may or may not be a close match to your steering wheel, and it will set you back about $50. (The wheel at TM Tractor Parts is about the closest reproduction I've seen.)
- Find somebody parting out a Cub which has a "like-new" steering wheel. (The odds of this happening range from slim to none.)
- Wrap or cover the existing wheel with some kind of steering wheel cover. Lace-up covers are available in both leather and plastic, but they don't look quite right to my eyes. And they will probably rot after sitting in the elements for a season.
- Use some kind of tape like duct tape, friction tape, 3M's 33+ electrical tape, or... After sitting in the sun, the adhesive creeps and bleeds or just gives up the ghost and starts to unwrap by itself.
- Take the steering wheel to your friendly neighborhood polymer chemist and ask him/her to "make it like new".
This tape is designed to wrap electrical connections and form a water-tight seal. But as a cover for the weather-beaten Cub steering wheel, it is great! The images below show my steering wheel after being out in the weather for about 18 months. [I don't yet have a Cub Shed, but that is about to change.] The tape shows no sign of failure or decay.

This is a close up of the wrap on the steering wheel.

This is the entire wheel, dismounted so I can paint the spokes and hub.
Depending on the condition of the steering wheel, these are the steps I would follow to rehab the old, but still sound wheel.
- Examine the wheel. Are there chunks of the black rubber missing or loose?
- If there are loose chunks, determine whether they should be removed or if they can be stuck back in place with JB Weld.
- If any loose chunks were removed or if there are missing chunks, the wheel will have to be reconstructed.
- Clean the wheel with alcohol and maybe a light wire brushing. The tape needs a good, competent surface to stick to.
- If chunks are loose, stick them back on with JB Weld and temporarily bind the repair with a good electrical tape (3M 33+), and allow to cure. After epoxy cure, carve the surface to conform to original shape.
- If missing chunks, replace/repair with epoxy putty. After epoxy cure, carve the surface to conform to original shape.
- After all repair is completed, start the wrap. Start at one of the spokes and stretching the tape slightly, wrap it around itself. Now start wrapping the wheel, keeping the same tension on the tape. Too much stretch and the tape becomes too narrow. Not enough tension and the chemical/physical reaction does not take place.
It takes longer to read this than it takes to wrap the wheel. And if the wraps do not meet your level of perfection, cut them off with a razor blade or sharp utility knife and start over. The tape can be found at any electrical supply store or at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc.
After seeing how well this tape is holding up to the weather, I may even try to wrap the shift knob...
I would appreciate any feedback you have. This link will take you to the Feedback thread: Shade Tree Feedback