Disappearing act steering adjusting wedge

Warren

Warren

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The all thread that controls the adjustment of the in and out of the wheel has dropped out of sight. While changing steering wheels all I'm left with is this to hook up to.
Red manual has center shaft that looks like all thread , If I fish down the center of the steering shaft with a screwdriver there is nothing there. The adjustable steering shaft worked before...
 
It's In There !!

Warren said:
The all thread that controls the adjustment of the in and out of the wheel has dropped out of sight. While changing steering wheels all I'm left with is this to hook up to.
Red manual has center shaft that looks like all thread , If I fish down the center of the steering shaft with a screwdriver there is nothing there. The adjustable steering shaft worked before...
Click to expand...

It can't leave as there is one very large expansion cone on the other end (inside) . Try the long, slender HD magnet trick. Worst case will be to pull the unit and shake it down. I always (learned the hard way) put a twist tie on the threads when working on them. . . . . .:D Enjoy
 
Bright Side

Warren

Now may be the time to install power steering while the column is out!

Rick
 
Oh the joy

I book my last remaining 1/16 mild steel welding rod put a little curly Q in it and fished it out , but then couldn't get the welding rod out without breaking it inside the column ,luckily I was able to fish that out but then it fell back down the hole . All my magnet sticks are way too big ,are way too big . I guess this must be one those things ,didn't read about it in the copy of the shop notes, Arrrrgh
 
Been There, Done That

Warren,

When I did the same thing, I was able to get the part out using a magnet on a flexible shaft. The magnet was cylindrical and small enough to fit down inside. I wrapped some electrical tape around the side of the magnet so it was less likely to "stick" to the sides as I lowered it down inside the shaft.

Good Luck!
David
 
Can someone who has been there, please tell us how to correctly remove the factory wheel and install, say, a Moto-Lita without incurring undue wrath from Lord Rootes himself?
 
White nylon washer

My car was well played with by others. In the manual is a picture of a white nylon washer which sole reason for existing is to prevent the expander bolt from slipping away. Of course mine was long gone which created the fine mess today was.
Thanks Bob J. for the one on one call and Bruce and Derek and Rick for the well mannered jibes.
Tomorrow the 30 min job gets turned into a R n R and lube on the steering col. oh boy it get funner every day finding the hidden booger's from P.O.'s and "mechanics past"

Magnet was no luck, but the bright side is the bearings have sounded dry and scratchy for some time now and they will get some well deserved lube.
 
Warren--glad the calls and pics helped, now it's like when you were little and went fishing at the fair--a string and clothes pin. I tried to get the center rod on my spare column to slide in but it doesn't--guess that's a good thing. Good luck--maybe try something sticky ( or a small piece of double sided tape) to slide down on the end of a rod or stick--just might work.
 
Telescopic magnet

I had exactly the same problem. Fortunately I had a very slim telescopic magnet (6 mm at it widest). I needed its full length (very approx 24") to reach down and get it out. Take a look at EBay for a 2 lb telescopic magnet (no affiliation). Approx $10. They are slimmer than the average Biro, and about the same lenth when collapsed down. They are useful for all sorts of things. Bugman
 
Warren said:
In the manual is a picture of a white nylon washer which sole reason for existing is to prevent the expander bolt from slipping away.
Click to expand...

Yup. One of the few things I did to the car after buying it but before putting a garage on the house was an aftermarket steering wheel. That washed ended up in the gravel driveway, never to be seen again and I looked for a long time. It's now somewhere under the concrete slab.

So I ended up resorting to removing the column and shaking the shaft loose. :(
 
I pulled one out before with a welding rod and a piece of that real sticky stuff from the removable wall hangers. Slow and gentle..............
 
My solution was taking a piece of thin but fairly rigid wire (Ace Hardware). I wrapped it around a bolt with the same thread pattern as the adjuster shaft. You have to pull it tight or even heat it while you wrap it. Once done, I slid it down the steering column and "screwed" it onto the missing shaft... It worked like a charm. It's been 10 years since it did it but it worked then... It should work now! My two bits...
 
Rob, I'm going to call BS

I cant screw a majority of the car's bolts I have on hand, on the shop table, one in each hand.. into each other without significant back-n-forth 'fiddle.'

And you were able to accomplish this remotely, with a twistable lead, over a couple feet... amazing!!!

You sir, should have bought a lottery ticket that very day. :p

Or maybe I'm just '(un)lucky' that way...

Good luck Warren (but like a couple of us said...after you pull the column you'll say 'why didn't I just do that sooner...?')


Derek
 
Methodology

Since I'm going to be replacing my original wheel soon with the gorgeous Moto-Lita I just scored on eBay UK, and with my recent attempt at "tilt and squirt" to refill the steering rack in mind, I wonder if raising the front of the car say to about eleven o'clock would prevent any parts from sliding into the steering column. :D
 
Chiding

Paul that's what silly Bruce suggested, Yesterday I gave it one more try, with the welding rod. When it was quiet between the gardeners shifts at the neighbors, I fished with the welding rod. I could hear it slide up then where it binds I then inserted pencil magnet and Voila. Now she has a little string and a zip tie.

Now that its apart the horn ring got a nice rattle can freshen.

I got a Le Carra wheel in the package deal and am refinshing it as well as it is rather yellow and clashes terribly with the Walnut burl. Looks much better in dark trim. My old wheel a Alpine wheel with a nice leather cover is available. It will get a heating in the Cali Sun tighten the plastic collar with a drawn tight wire clamp then repair with JB Weld. Its refreshing to be able to fix something in one day. Even the simplest job on the car can take several days but fixing a little item in one day is good therapy on these crazy little beasts. Thanks all. I hope the next Nube previews steering wheel removal before the rabbit sides down the hole on them.
 
Warren said:
Paul that's what silly Bruce suggested, Yesterday I gave it one more try, with the welding rod. When it was quiet between the gardeners shifts at the neighbors, I fished with the welding rod. I could hear it slide up then where it binds I then inserted pencil magnet and Voila. Now she has a little string and a zip tie.

Now that its apart the horn ring got a nice rattle can freshen.

I got a Le Carra wheel in the package deal and am refinshing it as well as it is rather yellow and clashes terribly with the Walnut burl. Looks much better in dark trim. My old wheel a Alpine wheel with a nice leather cover is available. It will get a heating in the Cali Sun tighten the plastic collar with a drawn tight wire clamp then repair with JB Weld. Its refreshing to be able to fix something in one day. Even the simplest job on the car can take several days but fixing a little item in one day is good therapy on these crazy little beasts. Thanks all. I hope the next Nube previews steering wheel removal before the rabbit sides down the hole on them.
Click to expand...

Warren:
Well, my post was obviously a spoof. HOWEVER, I'm still not clear on how to avoid the problem you encountered when I do my steering wheel swap. I did get a chuckle out of your comment "even the simplest job on the car can take several days….." I've been there many more times than once. :)

So, can someone please explain to me, as if I were a 3 year old, how to R+R the steering wheel and avoid any complications. Where do I dot the i's and cross the t's?
 
Okay,

1st. Don't think its an easy job cause it looks like a VW

2nd. don't forget to over look the manual and then get a Limey to translate the English into Colonial speak.:)

If you can make sure that steering wheel is straight with wheels dead ahead before removing, if you have nice straight shot into work area it will be easier to have spokes centered where you want them when going straight with new wheel on.

Remove Bakelite clam shell cover bottom first + screws then the 1/2 clamp which holds upper to steer col. Look to see if the pointed sheet metal screw in middle has nicked wires for turn signal that pass thru same spot e tape or cover. Take that screw and throw into yard as far as possible.

Okay now the fun Prise means gently pry the center horn button "the leatherette chinga with the silver center, pry between the chrome ring and the bakelite holder that turns to free up the expander bolt. The manual says turn to the left I think then pull to extend wheel to most outward position.

Now IDK if this is required but some tech writer pecked it in there. With the center padded horn button off a 1/2 bolt will come off next. gently then wiggle off the bakelite ring. Here is where I think I screwed up. If you turned the release more than a couple of turns a collar which is just below the horn ring end looks like (_) " put a line on top too" if the collar is screwed out too far it looses its threaded grip and away slides the expander bolt with a ball bearing rolling down a hollow tube sound. "this is where the collar like nylon washer in the picture hopefully still is and will prevent the escape of the expander bolt. You can't see this yet I do not think, mine was long gone.

Okay take off the 3 screws holding off the horn ring, oh and battery disconnect if your horns work good, mine are anemic and needed the work out as they sound better now, but the dog hated it.

Hopefully the collar,"a cast piece that the 1/2 bolt goes into is still screwed into the end of the expander bolt. Again here is where I err ed turning the bakelight wheel too many times will also disconnect the collar then if no white nylon washer on expander bolt shaft is present gravity takes over.
I made a replacement out of a thin plastic about the size of a nickel. Just to safe also used light fishing line got a clove hitch to the threaded section.

Fool me once you little bastard car, okay but not twice!

Now you can take a socket I only had 26mm to remove hold down nut.
Now gently rock side to side to remove wheel keeping eye on nylon washer and safety string if used. The nylon washer covers the big nut that's why I used the string fed thru the socket drive.

With wheel off and a hypo syringe and a Wd40 straw you can give a little oil squirt to the bearings per drawing in manual.

Fit your sexy Moto Lita, It wont have a horn ring but you will need to thread the button contact to the Lucar "Translated push on connecter."
Put on 26 mm nut

You will not use collar so you will need a 1/2 head nut to secure the expander bolt and tighten down where it's most comfortable as your adjustment feature is no longer available. maybe you need a couple of washers. Press in your new horn button.

I hope I was clear enough.
Cheers W.
 
Fantastic Tutorial !!!

Warren:
Thank you, thank you, thank you. This is precisely the information I was hoping for.

Before I saw your initial post, I did "prise" the center chinga off to reveal the nut, and thought "well, doesn't this look easy." :)

I'm glad I stopped at that point and quit for the evening. I've already gotten myself into enough trouble for one week with the car.

Your detailed instructions would make a terrific "sticky" - and are a very important addition to the accumulated body of Tiger Tech Tips.

Oh, and thank you for translating "the lucar" -that alone might have taken me days!

Thanks again, Sir.
P
 
I took a very fine stiff wire (Ace/True Value hardware) and wrapped it around a screw with the same thread pattern as the adjustment shaft. A little heat helps make it really tight. Removed the screw and slid the wire down the steering column. I "screwed" it onto the missing shaft and pulled it up. It's been about ten years since I did this but it worked then... and should work now... My two bits...
 
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