Owners Manual

J/8
STEERING
STEERING FAULTS
If
steering faults are
not
attributed
to
adjustment
of
the gear, they may fall into one
of
the following
categories.
Lost Motion
The
amount
of
lost
motion
reaches its maximum
at
either lock,
but
this
is
not
normally felt
at
the steering
wheel, since the geometry
of
the steering always
tends to return the steering gear to the straight ahead
position.
Excessive lost motion in the steering gear will result
in unsteady steering, knocks
and
backlash all
of
which
can be felt
at
the steering wheel. This defect may be
attributed to loose steering connections throughout the
linkage.
Tight Steering
If
the steering
is
tight, disconnect the steering tubes
and
test the feel
of
the steering wheel. Stiffness may be
due to the steering column being pulled
out
of
line
and
this
can
be verified by loosening the column sup-
porting bracket under the fascia
and
allowing the column
to find its free position. Should the steering still be stiff
check whether this is so in all positions.
If
so, the cause
may
be:-
(a) The direction indicator tube is fouling the
column.
(b) The felt bush
at
the top
of
the steering column
is
too tight.
(c)
The
steering tube
is
bent.
To
ascertain whether the direction indicator tube
is
fouling the column, withdraw the indicator tube
as
previously described.
Turn
the steering wheel
and
if
the stiffness has disappeared, it will probably be found
that the indicator tube
is
bent, thus requiring a replace-
ment.
Should the steering still be stiff with the indicator
tube free, withdraw the steering wheel
and
check the
tightness
of
the felt bush
and
renew, if necessary.
If
the bush
is
free
but
the steering remains
tight, remove the bush
and
check whether
the
steering
column pulls heavily to one side. The inner column
is
fairly flexible
and
slight pulling
to
one side has little or
no effect
on
the feel
of
the gear, but it may be
that
the
column
is
bent thus giving no alternative but to renew
the column.
Fig. 12. Sectional views of the steering gear.
1.
Felt
bush.
2. Steering
inner
column.
3.
Steering gear housing.
4.
Ball
cup
for bearing.
5. Ball
cage-inner.
6. Cam.
7.
Ball
cage-outer.
8. Ball
cup
for bearing.
9.
Joint
washer
and
shims.
10.
End
cover.
I
I.
Securing setpin.
12.
Rocker
shaft.
13.
Top
cover setpin.
I4.
Rocker
armpeg.
I
5.
Rocker
shaft
adjusting screw.
16.
Rocker
shaft
bearing.
17.
Double
lever.
18. Securing nut.