Brodie knob

lostagain · December 02, 2016, 07:35:55 AM

Seeing one on Scott and Heather's steering wheel, I thought this would make for a good discussion.

I personally don't like them, but some people do.

A look at Wikipedia on the subject https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_knob, brings up the history of the spinners.

They came about when steering was manual, and are not popular anymore with power steering. They are dangerous because they can hit your hand or wrist, or catch your sleeve when the wheel centers itself rapidly. Interesting to find out that they are illegal in Canada. Many trucking and bus companies do not allow them. Around here, some farmers like them on their tractors and combines, some do not.

Who uses one? and who doesn't? That could be a survey.

JC

Tikvah · December 02, 2016, 07:39:41 AM

I'm interested in this topic. There was one on my wheel in the past and left a mark. I've considered putting one on again.
But I don't want to impede the control of the wheel.
It seems a good grip on the spinner would be superior in a panic situation to the wheel itself.

Love to hear the additional thoughts.

lostagain · December 02, 2016, 07:50:30 AM

I would think the spinner would be in the way in an emergency.

I was trained 40 years ago to hold the wheel at 10 and 2 o'clock, and most importantly, to keep all fingers on the outside of it, so they don't get caught in the spokes.

JC

Oonrahnjay · December 02, 2016, 07:53:34 AM

Quote from: Tikvah on December 02, 2016, 07:39:41 AM... It seems a good grip on the spinner would be superior in a panic situation to the wheel itself. ...

Just a thought but a big part of my job for 20 years was vehicle safety. I've sat through hundreds of hours of research meetings and discussions, run crash tests, evaluated accidents, etc. Every nerve in my brain is telling me that there's nothing better than the 10/2 grip on the wheel in a panic situation -- and if there is, you'll know it at the time but it's not likely to be a spinner knob. I don't know enough to discuss the issue of the fact that one might be in the way or catch on something. Just my WAIG .... (I'd use one to back into a tight parking place or pulling out of a fuel pump area if someone is partially blocking the exit, but not on the road.)

Back when the "undocumented foreign citizen" driving drunk and being chased by the police at 110 MPH+ hit my car and flipped me upside down in the ditch, I remember thinking as my car was sliding along on its roof "Is it better to hang on the wheel and steady myself that way or take my hands off the wheel and wrap my forearms around my head to protect my head". I kept both hands on the wheel and (with the help of the shotgun-shell seat belts and the side air bags - thanks Mr. VW!), I walked away from it although my car had rolled over side-to-side and flipped end over end. I like 10/2.

Quote from: lostagain on December 02, 2016, 07:50:30 AM... I was trained 40 years ago to hold the wheel at 10 and 2 o'clock, and most importantly, to keep all fingers on the outside of it, so they don't get caught in the spokes.

Yep, especially thumbs. You might have a very slightly better grip with your thumbs inside the steering wheel but not if they're broken -- and if something has happened wild enough to break them, then you *really* need to not have them broken. Been there, seen it happen ...

rusty · December 02, 2016, 08:02:31 AM

I have one on my tractor and we had them on all our tractors on the farm. With a tractor you do a lot of turning a bus not so much. And I have been beat up by many of them on the farm. Would not have one on the bus reminds me to much of the farm and makes the bus wheel look like a tractor

Wayne

daddysgirl · December 02, 2016, 08:03:01 AM

My wheel is 1/2 the size of that one, but that thing would drive me crazy. I always drive 10/2...and built a foldaway table that I keep up for my Ice cup, phone etc...
So log me as a no way.

DoubleEagle · December 02, 2016, 08:06:30 AM

They are a nice bit of nostalgia, brings back memories of manual steering and the term "knuckle buster", which was very accurate. I do not recommend them, and some companies have prohibited them from use on their equipment.

Tikvah · December 02, 2016, 08:15:02 AM

Interesting that I'm hearing a couple of you mention using these with manual steering. I would think the opposite would be true... that using one with power steering would be ideal. Using one with a hard-to-turn wheel would be almost impossible.

I remember trying to turn a bus, and if it wasn't moving I would literally need to stand up to turn the wheel. I'm not doing that with one hand on a spinner knob.
However, with power steering, trying to back into a space, being able to spin left, spin right, easily would be advantageous. Or hitting a pot-hole at 60mph, the wheel won't snap like the old manual steering, it has ... .well, power.

Help me understand.

DoubleEagle · December 02, 2016, 08:26:11 AM

Steering wheels were bigger with manuals, and there were more turns lock to lock, and as long as you were moving (and had adequate strength) you could use it to turn quicker.

B_K · December 02, 2016, 08:38:22 AM

I was told by a DOT officer they were illegal in a commercial vehicle and received a ticket from him as well back in the 90's while I was still trucking!

BK

brmax · December 02, 2016, 09:04:25 AM

I think they work great when mounted at 12:oclock on my tractor and others I have used, either power steer or not.
If using the 10 & 2 position we train, test and get tested for in driving its not in my opinion in the way.
I do recall when we took them off steer wheels as a company thing ?late 70's, like a lot of beneficial things they get used for an excuse and so get the easy oust.
I recall the other day mention air ride seats and pot holes, uh the roof! if your just average height is pretty hard in some truck cabs, which should we remove the seat or the roof hehehe

Floyd

TomC · December 02, 2016, 09:20:34 AM

I steer 90% of the time only with my left hand (from 21 years of driving 13spd). If they made a legal steering wheel that was just one spoke leading to a spinner knob, that's how I would drive. There are fork lifts made without steering wheels and just a spinner knob so to use your right hand to operate the hydraulics. Good Luck, TomC

TomC · December 02, 2016, 09:23:06 AM

During the last years that my Mom was driving, her left hand was injured to the point that it was just about useless. We put a spinner knob on her steering wheel-it was mounted inside the rim so it didn't get in the way of a normal driving. Good Luck, TomC

chessie4905 · December 02, 2016, 09:28:33 AM

Illegal in registered vehicles in Pa.

buswarrior · December 02, 2016, 10:46:16 AM

The construction of the human wrist comes into the analysis.

Some of the directional forces in certain quadrants of the circle involved in using a spinner knob do not play well with the weaker directions of our wrist design.

And with general grip and hand strength compromised by ageing...

What we might have got away with in our brawny youth, we may injure ourselves, or fail to perform now, in a time of great exertion?

I have one that came on the old Massey Ferguson, don't really like it. It moves all around due to the fully hydraulic steering never returning to the same place twice...

My preference? I wouldn't use one on a road going vehicle.

happy coaching!
buswarrior