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Vintage Steering Wheel Smells Like Barf

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by RF, Jun 25, 2005.

  1. RF
    Joined: Mar 13, 2001
    Posts: 1,897

    RF
    Member

    Someone please explain that to me...'52 Chevy DeLuxe wheel, well worn with age, smells like human throwup (the good kind, after a binge night of drinking) after it "warms up". Is that an aged characteristic of Bakelite (or whatever the hell it's made of)? Don't much care for it...
     
  2. draggin'GTO
    Joined: Jul 7, 2003
    Posts: 1,792

    draggin'GTO
    Member

    This reminds me of one drawer in a toolbox at my work. Smelled just like puke, I couldn't ever figure it out.

    Then someone said it's the plastic handles on the nut drivers (or 'spin tights')curing, the nasty smell was some of the chemicals used in making it finding their way out.

    Very likely the same with your old steering wheel. Still curing after all these years, it probably won't stop stinking 'til long after we're all dead. :eek:
     
  3. Same thing here..., I've soaked and washed the nut drivers in many different concoctions but the "Barf" smell hasn't left those old nut drivers...!!!!!!
     
  4. Leaky Pipes
    Joined: Jan 11, 2005
    Posts: 596

    Leaky Pipes
    Member

    chemical/plastic decomposition from what Iv'e heard.
     

  5. bct
    Joined: Apr 4, 2005
    Posts: 3,154

    bct
    Member

    bakerlite
     
  6. mikhett
    Joined: Jan 22, 2005
    Posts: 1,516

    mikhett
    Member
    from jackson nj

    maybe "RALPH HAD A BUICK"on your steering wheel, at least its the good kind.
     
  7. skratch
    Joined: Dec 18, 2001
    Posts: 867

    skratch
    Member

    i know what your saying.i bought a steeringwheel a couple weeks ago.when i open the box it stunk.bad!i had to throw the box away ,right then.the steeringwheel has just a slight smell to it now.

    another thing about that vintage plastic.it will get a fungus.and it will spred to other plastics....weird
     
  8. JimA
    Joined: Apr 1, 2001
    Posts: 4,796

    JimA
    BANNED

    The first new car I bought was a black '88 S-10 Blazer, my wife made me sell it after we got so sick drinking that we both got alcohol poisioning and the next day I barfed on the steering wheel (it was still new!). I sold the car and have never been drunk since.

    Edit: I just realized I was only 21 when this experience happened- my drinking days didn't last long.
     
  9. I think that there is some truth to this answer because no fungus would survive the chemical baths I gave my nut drivers!!!:confused:
     
  10. leadsleadolds
    Joined: Jun 7, 2004
    Posts: 1,817

    leadsleadolds
    Member

    So many jokes...no fungus would survive the chemical baths I gave my nut drivers!!!
     
  11. chromedRAT
    Joined: Mar 5, 2002
    Posts: 1,737

    chromedRAT
    Member

    ha, i thought i was the only one that noticed nut driver's reeking like that. my grandpa has a set, left em in the rain ONCE and since that day we refer to them as puke wrenches! interesting to see that it is widespread!
     
  12. dude, I laughed hard reading this post...
     
  13. Brandy
    Joined: Dec 23, 2004
    Posts: 5,286

    Brandy
    Member
    from Texas

     
  14. Nads
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 11,862

    Nads
    Member
    from Hypocrisy

    A lot of times the plastic had a component in it called casein, which is milk based and indeed it does smell wretched. The boat steering wheel in my '34 smells really horrible too.

    If you want to smell something truly horrific come to my house and take a sniff of my television set. It's a '59 Philco Predcta tandem with a 21" screen. The plastic covers are made from casein, but ony the 21"ers, the 17s smell just fine.


    http://www.suzy.co.nz/suzysworld/Factpage.asp?FactSheet=114
     
  15. Nicke
    Joined: Jun 21, 2005
    Posts: 34

    Nicke
    Member

    After reading this post I had to go out and smell the steering wheel in my 1960 El Camino. However, it did not smell anything...

    But yours was a 1952 so perhaps in 8 years or so??
     
  16. Petejoe
    Joined: Nov 27, 2002
    Posts: 12,264

    Petejoe
    Member
    from Zoar, Ohio

    This post cracks me up!:D
    Yes, its the decomposition causing the smell. I had some plastics at work do the same thing. Makes me gag everytime I have to use them.
    The only thing I know to do would be to re seal it with some kind of hard epoxy based shit.
     
  17. I bought a Bates seat for my scooter once that smelled like crap. I got it off a dude that for some reason didn't want to be a biker anymore. :rolleyes:

    I used to wipe all my old '50s cars down with vinegar first thing when I got 'em. That seemed to help. They say amonia works well also. The used car dealers used to use it to give 'em back that new car smell.
     
  18. luketrash
    Joined: Jul 29, 2004
    Posts: 301

    luketrash
    Member

    Thanks for posting this. Now I can explain to my dad why we call the vintage set of screwdrivers he has, his POOdrivers.


    (smell like baby shit to me)
     
  19. jalopy43
    Joined: Jan 12, 2002
    Posts: 3,085

    jalopy43
    Member Emeritus

    Nads,and Suzy are right. It's the casien based plastics. Sour milk barfaroni.:D If anyone has a mid '70 Camaro,that smells like beer barf,I did barf in the floorpan in a couple of them,after a warm 40oz.'lunch' at the Van Nuys factory.:eek: Sparky
     
  20. RF
    Joined: Mar 13, 2001
    Posts: 1,897

    RF
    Member

    That explains everything...thanks for sharing your wisdom.
     
  21. The wheel on my '56 Victoria was barfy. I mixed Simple Green and water half-and-half and let the wheel sit in it for a few hours. Was cool for a couple summer months...but the barfiness returned.

    Mount a Christmas tree freshner on the horn button or learn to live w/ the stench.
     
  22. QuakeMonkey
    Joined: Feb 25, 2003
    Posts: 380

    QuakeMonkey
    Member

    Hey RF, I posted the same question a while back: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7339
    I haven't got around to trying any of these remedies yet but they do sound like they'll work. Ultimately I think sealing that evil stench with a clear coat could be the solution. Good luck!
     
  23. merc-o-madness
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 1,544

    merc-o-madness
    Member

    hahaha i have one of those in my basement, fuggen gross
     
  24. That first blowjob never stays down.


    You didn't buy it from this chick, did you?

    [​IMG]


    JOE:cool:
     
  25. Silverado
    Joined: Feb 4, 2005
    Posts: 133

    Silverado
    Member

    This sounds like the infamous grease can found in the heater box of a 73-87 Chevy truck fromt the Flint plant. In the can, a note was found that said "If you are reading this, it is August '77, the king is dead and I haven't been laid in months."
     
  26. dodgerodder
    Joined: Feb 15, 2005
    Posts: 1,943

    dodgerodder
    Member

    I'm sure we are all aware of the risks that nut drivers take with risky behavior. A chemical bath alone is not enough to prevent the spread of fungus from your nut driver to others. A condom, or even better, abstinence, is your only protection from the smell, as well as the spreading of the fungus.

     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  27. Jeem
    Joined: Sep 12, 2002
    Posts: 5,882

    Jeem
    Alliance Vendor

    Linda Blair gave me an idea. Maybe a good priest may be able to excorcise the devil out. On second thought, I kinda doubt it, it's IN the plastic. Get an "Our Lady of Guadalupe" air freshener, it'll be like smashing your finger with a hammer to forget about the sliver in your toe.
     
  28. GO-rilla
    Joined: Dec 29, 2004
    Posts: 744

    GO-rilla
    Member

    You know I had an X-lite tool case on the sub and it smelled so bad that someone finally did puke in it once. Deepsixed it minus the funky tools, but they got bagged and squrreled away. The electricians never found thier kit after that day, sucks to be them.:)
     
    falcongeorge likes this.
  29. Gash
    Joined: Jun 20, 2005
    Posts: 30

    Gash
    Member
    from IL

    You have to soak your nutdrivers in-cider...
     
  30. Mike
    Joined: Mar 5, 2001
    Posts: 3,540

    Mike
    Member

    Sorry, I don't have an answer about your steering wheel, but can anyone tell me why my vintage aircraft bucket seats smell like ass? ;)
     

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