Removing the steering wheel

I'ts been a while, welded up the groove in the shaft, this warped the shaft a bit.
Fitting the shaft backwards in the steering box and tightening the bearings allowed me to
turn the shaft,check for warp,and straighten the shaft without
taking the box apart between checks.
It is now straight to within 0,1 of an inch.
I've made a new nylon upper seal and spring pad that will hopefully not cut up the shaft again.
Another puzzle done.
Best wishes for 2011 everyone

Frank

Jim,
I'm positive it is a groove.
The colum was a bit out of alignment, but not to the extent that it was actually bent.
The spacers were there, but I will have to reshim the steering box.
Does the frame flex significantly when the engine/box goes back in?

Frank

Hi Frank,
There have been several cases that I know of where the steering column has broken at this location. As you know the steering box is mounted on a wedge to the frame. The steering column is supported by a bracket to the dashboard. There should be some spacers between the steering column bracket and the dashboard so the column is held at the correct angle. I know of a couple of cases where these spacers were not there which resulted in the column being forced out of alignment. After numerous turns the column fatigues and cracks at the steering box.

I'd check very carefully if the groove in yours is a groove or if it a crack. Make sure when you reinstall the column, the spacers are the correct size so the column isn't bending.

Jim

One step forward .

Threads on steering shaft are repaired.

Next problem. The shaft has a groove in it.
This groove is about 0.05 inch in depth just above the steering box where the seal sits.
Looks like it is worn in by the cap/plate that holds the box seal in place.

Common problem? Has anyone welded this up ? Leave it as is?Has anyone had a shaft fail at this point?

I'm looking for options in this.

Frank

Hi.

Well, here's another re-assembly opportunity I have to look forward to!

--Tom

Frank,
I'm glad to hear you got the steering wheel off.

I'm looking forward to hearing the car is back on the road.

Jim

Jim,
There is a nut(case)(me) all over this car!
Thanks for the pictures, does the threaded cup have a tang/lip/notch/whatever
to hold it in place on the steering wheel or is it friction of the wheel nut that holds it in place?
I'll give it a go

The wheel is off!
As you thought the nut was a bit loose. pulling up on the wheel gave enough drag to unscrew everything in the end.

I'll email you a pair of photo's as the wheel and ring are a bit different.
The nut was loose because the threads on the shaft are damaged quite badly.
Oh well, just another challenge.

Frank

Hi Frank,

I'm glad to hear you are progressing on the Cord. It sounds like the car will be ready in time for Spring touring.

Yes the horn ring and horn cap have to turn together.

I was thinking some more about this and I think the problem is a lose nut (for the rest of you its the nut in the steering wheel not the nut behind the wheel - that a problem in other cars, like mine). There is a nut that holds the steering wheel on the shaft. The nut also holds a cup that has threads on it that the horn cap screws on to. If the nut is loose the cup can turn with the horn cap.

I'm emailing you some photos that will show you what I'm talking about. If anyone else wants a copy of the photos please send me an email address and I'll forward them.

You may be able to feel a small up and down play in the hirn ring and horn cap that would tell you the nut is loose, if it's very loose you may be able to tip the horn ring side to side.

If this is the case you may be able to pull the hron ring and horn cap back towards you while turning and turn the nut off. The other option would be to try cocking the horn ring and cap so that the cup wedges between the steering wheel and the nut and you can turn off the horn cap.

Hopefully the photos will give you an idea of how you may be able to get the horn ring off.

One last note...The Cords continue to puzzle all of us.

CORDially,
Jim

Hi Jim,

The car is coming along.
The steering box is the last mechanical part to come out(hopefully, it is also about the last mechanical part left on the car)

The engine is getting a new crank and rods,reground camshaft, custom pistons ,ect,ect...
Gearbox is together again.

Front suspension is waiting for the engine to come back,suspension arms modified for greasing.
Bearings yet to be fitted to chassis.Hopefully the bearings will line up.

Rear spring covers modified with grease nipples.
Front spring taken apart cleaned and reassembled.

Steering Y modified for greasing and bracket resized.
Rear axle is in the paintshop.
Brakes are complete.

Am working on steering and electrics at the moment.

Was filling steering box when the need to take it off and apart arose.

As I have no idea what is beneath the plastic disk on
the steering wheel I am a bit worried about poking around with a screwdriver.

A drawing or picture of a disassembled set would be of great help.

Just to be sure, the horncap and the hornring have to rotate together, not the cap against the ring?

As the whole set rotates without unscrewing I am wondering how the threaded cap in the steering wheel is fixed to the wheel.

The Cord puzzle continues.

Frank

Hi Frank,
The plastic disk is what has to spin, and yes anti-clockwise is correct for removal. If it is cocked on there the threads may be stripped since they are plastic and after 70 years who know what condition they are in.

There are two springs under the horn which make getting the horn ring and plastic cap back on difficult, especially if the threads are a little messed up.

When I've had a ring that was cocked on there it's usually been cross threaded and doesn't want to spin. I'd try pushing the side with the large gap down to get the gap even all the way around and then carefull try twisting it off.

Also try taking a look inside there if you can. It's possible that someone has devised a different way of holding the cap on, I have seen some wired on.

How's the rest of the car coming?

CORDially,
Jim

I need to remove the steering wheel.
Have taken out the small screw. The horn ring should unscrew anticlockwise, correct?
The ring just turns without unscrewing itself.
The horn ring has a uneven gap with the wheel.
Any tips?

Thanks
Frank