play in steering

[solarman216]

Have you been out on a drive with it and used full lock carefully ? It's just incase, as it's possible to over do the adjustment and end up jamming the steering box

agreed, you should only adjust the pre load to just take out play in the straight ahead position, and this play is only between steering wheel and drop arm movement, any more and you risk seizure, Rick

 

[solarman216]

when the box was manufactured it was purposely made with a tapered gear that was bigger in the centre and tapered to both sides, this was because most of the time you are in the straight ahead position so this is where most wear takes place, but after a high mileage it could have worn below the two side parts hence if you tighten it too much as you get to the less worn parts near full lock it could jam, I have just said in many words what makeitfit said in half a dozen but no matter it may help to understand a critical part of your motor, Rick

 

[cwc2128]

thanks guys it seems ok, as you know how buried the screw is, as I undid the nut the screw turned with it so unsure of what I wound it in by, all I know is I turned it in engine off until I had no play wheels straight ahead, I have driven it and theres a tiny amount of play.

 

[makeitfit]

Good info Rick. I've cut many of these boxes apart and they're beautiful inside and bloody strong:thumbs
I didn't realise the tapered gearing though, brilliant idea :clap

 

[solarman216]

yep, rack and pinion are the same the rack is machined tighter at the centre point tapering to the the outside, Rick