I see you found one.

I got one from Tractor Supply (TSC) for my old truck. Illegal but awesome!

Even in states where they are illegal (which is most of them, I believe), there are usually exceptions for medical necessity. Might not be a bad idea to have your doc scribble a note for you just in case.

-Rob

Fifty years ago, we called them "racking knobs". Why, I have no idea. I was going to jokingly suggest J.C. Whitney, not knowing they are still in business. I remember back then, the trick was to get your hands on their wholesale catalog, which was labeled the Warshawsky Company. The company history can be found on Wikipedia.

quote:

Originally posted by kimber1911:
Tried to steer with one hand on the way home from work today.
Having done so, I think a spinner or knob would be alot safer.

Will be doing a knob or spinner.
Spinner seems a bit safer as it is flat, however could be a bit more tiring to drive with than a knob.

Therefore I am leaning toward a spinner such as this one.
Steering wheel spinner

I'm not convinced one that attaches like that one is safer. Don't want it to possibly slide around mid-turn.

IIRC, a car with a suicide knob installed will not pass the Commonwealth-mandated annual safety inspection in VA.

Illegal in many states, and you will not find them in the retail auto supply stores. As others have said, need to look in lawn mower, etc. section.

I haven't seen a suicide knob on a steering wheel in decades.

What kind of vehicle do you drive? Modern rack & pinion steering systems don't require much steering input to turn, unlike the old recirculalating ball systems. Suicide knobs made it easier when you had to spin the wheel 50,000 times just to make a turn. That's no longer the case. I had surgery on my right arm and had to wear a sling for a month. I had no problems driving with one hand, which I usually do anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by BurtonRW:
Even in states where they are illegal (which is most of them, I believe), there are usually exceptions for medical necessity. Might not be a bad idea to have your doc scribble a note for you just in case.

-Rob

I have a code on my Indiana driver's licence that says I have to have a spinner knob. After I took several driving tests at a rehab clinic, my doctor gave me the required paperwork. Then I had to go to the license branch to get a new license. This would be a lot of work for a 3-month condition

"Ask your doctor if a knob is right for you".

Edit: FYI - I have this one.
High quality and price.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Eponym,

Necker Knobs, as they promote the ability to steer left handed while, ah, exploring the attributes of your nearby passenger while enroute.

I got a freebie promo John Deere made for my JD 4066R. It's a well made suicide knob.
FYI: John Deere = not cheap.

quote:

Originally posted by .38supersig:
Better yet, check your state laws as many states have deemed them illegal.

I believe they may lawful in all states, see generally http://www.suicideknob.net/state_laws.html (appears to have been last updated in 2016).

quote:

Originally posted by aileron:
Necker Knobs, as they promote the ability to steer left handed while, ah, exploring the attributes of your nearby passenger while enroute.

Ah! Thanks for spelling it out.
Should get my spinner tomorrow will post a pic and report back.
Monday arm goes in a sling.

I had multiple tears in my left shoulder repaired last June and was in an immobilizer for 6 weeks and a sling for another 4. I found when I drove I was most comfortable with my right hand at 12 o’clock and then used the hand in the sling to stabilize around 6 o clock during turns, etc. After a day or two it wasn’t a big deal at all, and I drove 4 days after surgery. Not sure why you’re going in a sling, but if the spinner doesn’t work out you may be surprised what you can adapt to doing with using your injured hand/arm to just help stabilize without putting any weight or pressure on it.

So you get to learn two new skills ...

Driving with one arm disabled.

And

Using a spinner knob on your steering wheel.

Excellent choice.

Hmmmmmm

quote:

Originally posted by x0225095:
So you get to learn two new skills ...

Driving with one arm disabled.

And

Using a spinner knob on your steering wheel.

Excellent choice.

Have you ever used one?
Using a spinner knob takes maybe 2 seconds to master and just about as quickly makes you wonder how you ever did without it. It can be a very helpful addition to vehicles used around the farm, tight maneuvers, trailer backing, off-road and etc. But on the highway, not so much.

If a driver was really adventurous back in the old days, he would saw and remove the top and bottom section of the steering wheel leaving only about a 6 or 7 inch section at 3 and 9 oclock. A knob was then affixed to either or both sides. Looked kinda like the control for some of the old multi-engined bombers.

Some knobs came with a pinup but the top was removable so you could insert a photo of your sweetie, your kid or whatever you wanted.

In southern Arizona and southern New Mexico, they were know as "nekkid knobs", as the older ones often had a stylized image of a buxom woman on them in a marvelous state of undress.
Some were also found on old tractors, but my Dad banned their use on the farm and ranch because of a then well known phenomenon of the older,front single-wheeled tractors, that if you hit a big clod, rock or rut with the front wheel, the steering wheel would spin like hell and said nekkid knob would dislocate or break your thumb, and/or hand. For that same reason, my Dad and other older guys would bitch you out on those tractors if you placed your hands and thumbs around the spokes of the wheel. I learned the hard way exactly what he meant more than once. It was thumbs up only on those old steering wheels.

Where's the best clock position for when the vehicle is going straight?