|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
09-15-2020, 09:05 PM | #1 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 63
|
Drag link too tight?
I’m trying to center my steering wheel by tightening the drag link end. It’s working, but I did have to tighten it quite a bit. Outside of accelerated wear, and possibly stiffer steering is there a bigger problem with “too tight” drag link ends?
|
09-15-2020, 10:59 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Mint Hill, North Carolina
Posts: 386
|
Re: Drag link too tight?
I have never heard of anyone trying to center the steering wheel by tightening the drag link ends.
On the pitman arm end of the drag link, tightening will not change the distance of where the ball is related to the socket in the drag link... it will only make steering harder. On the steering arm end of the drag link, you could conceivably compress the spring enough to affect steering wheel centering, but only minimally, as you will soon run out of travel. The adjustments in the ends of the drag link are designed for properly tensioning the drag link on the steering and pitman arms, not for steering wheel centering. You would need to have an adjustable length drag link in order to change the position of the steering wheel.. But then you could mis-align where the sector gear is in relation to the worm gear. Be certain your steering box is adjusted correctly. If you don't like the position of your steering wheel, remove it and turn it 45 degrees on the shaft. Another factor that may affect your steering wheel position is if you are running a shortened pitman arm. |
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|
09-16-2020, 10:08 AM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Posts: 63
|
Re: Drag link too tight?
Thanks for your input!
I’m only using the end of the drag link that has any effect at all on length. I’m using a F1 steering box, and centered it according to instructions, and it ended up cocking my 1940 ford steering wheel. It didn’t have another woodruff keyway to make adjustments, so I cut my own using a broach, but now I’m just trying to make it perfect, and the small adjustments possible by tightening the drag link end are adequate to that end, but back to my question: outside of wear, and steering effort is their any deleterious effects of “too tight” caps? I am looking into making my own adjustable drag link since they don’t seem to be available anymore. Unless someone has a source? |
09-16-2020, 11:13 AM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: albany
Posts: 462
|
Re: Drag link too tight?
Doesnt the F1 use a splined wheel? Has the shaft been cut and a model A end welded on? Maybe clocked wrong? Youll have to make a adjustable drag link. I shorten old tie rods to suit for that
|
09-17-2020, 09:36 AM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Palmyra, NJ
Posts: 475
|
Re: Drag link too tight?
I only turn the drag link cap in far enough to install the cotter pin. Be sure to check the balls on the Drag link and spindles. Wear on them will cause excess play in the steering.
|
09-17-2020, 10:22 AM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Red Deer, Alberta
Posts: 5,011
|
Re: Drag link too tight?
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)
__________________
If you don't hear a rumor by 10 AM, start one!. Got my education out behind the barn! |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) |
|