YOUR CCKW STEERING WHEEL

Facts, Tips, Hints, and other snippets about the CCKW, Chevy, or DUKW
Post Reply
joel gopan
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2493
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Hampden, ME

YOUR CCKW STEERING WHEEL

Post by joel gopan »

Only two types were used during production.
Hard Rubber, and Wood.The Hard Rubber version, when new was OD colored and when worn, became black. The Wood steering wheel was painted OD over the wood.
There were no Bakelite CCKW steering wheels. Bakelite is very brittle, Distributor caps were bakelite, Horn Buttons were bakelite.
44 MB 356378- 54 M-38A1-41 CCKW 352-51 M-37-42TW6-45MBT-43 M1 BOMB LIFT (WEAVER)- RECORD SETTING HONOR GRADUATE Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics School, U.S. ARMY 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL 1962 - MVPA 1064 - RED BALL CHAPTER - PHONY VETERAN HEADHUNTER - ARMY FIXED & ROTARY WING MECHANIC/CREWCHIEF-STILL FIT WARBIRD COCKPITS
UK Jack
Major
Major
Posts: 362
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Dorset England
Contact:

Re: YOUR CCKW STEERING WHEEL

Post by UK Jack »

joel gopan wrote:Only two types were used during production.
Hard Rubber, and Wood.The Hard Rubber version, when new was OD colored and when worn, became black. The Wood steering wheel was painted OD over the wood.
There were no Bakelite CCKW steering wheels. Bakelite is very brittle, Distributor caps were bakelite, Horn Buttons were bakelite.
What were the years of introduction for these two types of wheel Joel?
www.hmvf.co.uk
A forum for historic military vehicles - inspired by Bill & CCKW.org!!!

Nothing is permanent in life, except change.
joel gopan
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2493
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Hampden, ME

Post by joel gopan »

Hard ruber at fitst, and Wood versions later in 42.
44 MB 356378- 54 M-38A1-41 CCKW 352-51 M-37-42TW6-45MBT-43 M1 BOMB LIFT (WEAVER)- RECORD SETTING HONOR GRADUATE Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics School, U.S. ARMY 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL 1962 - MVPA 1064 - RED BALL CHAPTER - PHONY VETERAN HEADHUNTER - ARMY FIXED & ROTARY WING MECHANIC/CREWCHIEF-STILL FIT WARBIRD COCKPITS
armydriver
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2595
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: San Antonio, Texas

Post by armydriver »

As both steering wheels on my trucks, one 43 and one 45 are hard rubber, should I assume that they were replacement steering wheels?
52 M38 Willy's
Former owner and restorer of CCKW353 " Betty Boop"

proud father of a career Army officer/Blackhawk pilot/ War in Iraq veteran
Retired high school history teacher at Lt. Colonel Robert G. Cole CMH High School, Fort Sam Houston Texas
proud great grandson of four Confederate soldiers.
great great grandson of a War of 1812 veteran
great great great grandson of 2 American Revolutionary war veterans
Bill_Wolf
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2367
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Tilton, NH
Contact:

Post by Bill_Wolf »

My June 45 CCKW "airportable" also has hard rubber.

It will go back to wood when restored as I have one in safe keeping.
1945 GMC DUKW
1942 Chevy 125 Crash Truck from Dow AAFB,
1944 Chevy 325 Fire Truck
1942 WC-54 Ambulance
1944 M29C Weasel (x6)
1945 CCKW 353 A2 Open Cab "Air-portable"
1943 M5 High Speed Tractor
1942 Sperry Searchlight setup with GE Generator
1942 M-1 Fruehauf Searchlight Trailer (G221)
1942 M-17 Fruehauf Quad 50 Trailer (G221)
1942 M-10 Ammo Trailer (x3)
194? Steel Ben Hur (x4) 194? Wood Ben Hur (x2)
1945 Case VAIW-3 Aircraft Tug
1943 Case VAI USAAF with Mower
1944 Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
1944 PE-95G, 1944 PE-99B
joel gopan
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2493
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Hampden, ME

Post by joel gopan »

I have two Wood stashed away. Retirement investment, you know.
44 MB 356378- 54 M-38A1-41 CCKW 352-51 M-37-42TW6-45MBT-43 M1 BOMB LIFT (WEAVER)- RECORD SETTING HONOR GRADUATE Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics School, U.S. ARMY 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL 1962 - MVPA 1064 - RED BALL CHAPTER - PHONY VETERAN HEADHUNTER - ARMY FIXED & ROTARY WING MECHANIC/CREWCHIEF-STILL FIT WARBIRD COCKPITS
mud-snow
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Posts: 122
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Norway
Contact:

Two types?

Post by mud-snow »

Was there two types of wood steering wheels?

On Canadian Chevrolets (and Ford I think) they was very similare but with a slightly smaller diameter. Also think it was the same manufacturer.

Rolf
One of the best MV club-magazines in the world...
Have a look at the Norwegian MV-clubs site at www.hmkf.no
Bill_Wolf
Brigadier General
Brigadier General
Posts: 2367
Joined: Thu Jun 08, 2006 1:10 am
Location: Tilton, NH
Contact:

Post by Bill_Wolf »

Rolf,

See this page ont he main site.

http://www.cckw.org/steering_wheels.htm

Assorted wheels are pictured.

The top row left hand picture is a CMP wheel. I do have one exactly like this is the 20" size. It is painted yellow and I believe it came off DUKW.

It appears as though at least 2 hub types were used. Both pictured on the top row.

Image

Image


Bill
1945 GMC DUKW
1942 Chevy 125 Crash Truck from Dow AAFB,
1944 Chevy 325 Fire Truck
1942 WC-54 Ambulance
1944 M29C Weasel (x6)
1945 CCKW 353 A2 Open Cab "Air-portable"
1943 M5 High Speed Tractor
1942 Sperry Searchlight setup with GE Generator
1942 M-1 Fruehauf Searchlight Trailer (G221)
1942 M-17 Fruehauf Quad 50 Trailer (G221)
1942 M-10 Ammo Trailer (x3)
194? Steel Ben Hur (x4) 194? Wood Ben Hur (x2)
1945 Case VAIW-3 Aircraft Tug
1943 Case VAI USAAF with Mower
1944 Clark CA-1 Airborne Dozer
1944 PE-95G, 1944 PE-99B
jds15151
First Lieutenant
First Lieutenant
Posts: 72
Joined: Fri Jul 07, 2006 7:22 am
Location: Central Texas

CCKW Steering Wheel

Post by jds15151 »

Makes me wish I would've bid a bit higher on the wooden wheel that was on ebay a few weeks back! For the experts out there, has there been any effort or thought to reproducing the steering wheels? Or is there not enough demand to make it worthwhile?
Post Reply