1/2" slack when I pull up on steering wheel

[Arl37]

First of all Lock Doc let me thank you for your comments.

Have a couple more thoughts/questions.
Pulled steering wheel to look at upper bearing. Has some slack in it. Maybe a 1/16 to 1/8th inch. However, when I push the bearing in into the race and rotate the race it is nice and smooth. Thinking this is not my problem. Your thoughts?

Haven't had chance to loosen bolt on intermediate shaft but I don't see how you can get any slack from loosening it as bolt goes through a grove on shaft and there is little or no slack because of the grove.

I'm not sure how long I have had this problem. It may have been for a while. I replaced the manual steering with power steering a couple of years ago. It could be the loosening lower bolt just above the gear box and below the rag joint may give me the ability to take up the slack. Do you know if this part of the shaft has a slot like the upper bolt?

Unfortunately, I cant try to adjust the shaft for a while as just finish some minor surgery and Dr doesn't want me lifting or straying for a couple more weeks.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Arl37

First of all Lock Doc let me thank you for your comments.

Have a couple more thoughts/questions.
Pulled steering wheel to look at upper bearing. Has some slack in it. Maybe a 1/16 to 1/8th inch. However, when I push the bearing in into the race and rotate the race it is nice and smooth. Thinking this is not my problem. Your thoughts?

Haven't had chance to loosen bolt on intermediate shaft but I don't see how you can get any slack from loosening it as bolt goes through a grove on shaft and there is little or no slack because of the grove.

I'm not sure how long I have had this problem. It may have been for a while. I replaced the manual steering with power steering a couple of years ago. It could be the loosening lower bolt just above the gear box and below the rag joint may give me the ability to take up the slack. Do you know if this part of the shaft has a slot like the upper bolt?

Unfortunately, I cant try to adjust the shaft for a while as just finish some minor surgery and Dr doesn't want me lifting or straying for a couple more weeks.

Sounds like the upper bearing is working like it should.

Yes, the bolt in the top of the intermediate shaft is in a groove but that groove should allow some adjustment.

Let us know when you are able to try the suggestions posted here.

LockDoc

[Arl37]

will do

[Arl37]

Got her fixed.
On closer examination this morning I noticed the groove/slot that the bolt goes through was visible. As Lock Doc pointed out there is some room for movement within the slot and it is not just the width of the bolt. With minor modifications I did as Dr Jekyll suggested and took out the slack and seated the lower bearing.

My modifications from how Dr Jekyll suggested were to run a strap through the steering wheel ands under the brake pedal and cinched it tight.

Took a small pry bar rested middle against the bottom of the grease boot and the end against a header tube and pried the grease boot, washer, spring and bearing up to seat the the lower seal and then tightened the bolt while maintain pressure with the pry bar.

Hope this explanation will be of benefit to someone someday. Easy way to do it by yourself.

[LockDoc]

Originally Posted by Arl37

Got her fixed.
On closer examination this morning I noticed the groove/slot that the bolt goes through was visible. As Lock Doc pointed out there is some room for movement within the slot and it is not just the width of the bolt. With minor modifications I did as Dr Jekyll suggested and took out the slack and seated the lower bearing.

My modifications from how Dr Jekyll suggested were to run a strap through the steering wheel and under the brake pedal and cinched it tight.

Took a small pry bar rested middle against the bottom of the grease boot and the end against a header tube and pried the grease boot, washer, spring and bearing up to seat the the lower seal and then tightened the bolt while maintain pressure with the pry bar.

Hope this explanation will be of benefit to someone someday. Easy way to do it by yourself.

Good deal. Glad you got it fixed. Now on to the next challenge....

LockDoc

[Ol Blue K20]

Very creative idea on the strap to hold tension. Congratulations on the fix.