Steering Wheel Issue

[papamantra]

Hi All,

This weekend I decided to replace my control stalks as the indicator return mechanism had broken.

I unscrewed the steering wheel which then slid off very easily no tugging required!

I replaced the stalk unit and proceeded to re-assemble the wheel which slid back on easily.

I then noticed a 1/4 inch gap between the wheel and binnacle and can't remember if it was there before.

Has anyone got the same gap or do I need a large socket and rubber mallet to knock the wheel futher on?

Cheers

Ant

 

[Pastry]

just done exactly the same thing with my car. wheel didn't need knocking on - tightening the nut should push it onto the splines as far as it needs to go anyway.

did you get hold of a replacement indicator unit or repair the old one? I repaired mine, although it was a PITA to put back together.

 

[Pastry]

photo of mine;

mine's a 'lozenge' wheel your boss may be different but i've got a 1.4" gap too it seems. seems normal and eveything works.

 

[scam75]

Tis normal.

Stuart

 

[papamantra]

Thanks for the replies everyone at least I know its not likely to drop off.

Pastry, I managed to get a replacement off ebay for £25 and am tempted to have a go at repairing the old unit.

Has anyone got a walkthrough of how to repair?

 

[Pastry]

didn't take any photos but here's what i did;

I dremelled the rivets off and found one of the return spring guides had snapped off the stalk and was wedged in the mechanism. The other was cracked but friction with the spring was holding it in place so I reseated the broken bit put the spring back on (fiddly) then heat welded it in place with a soldering iron. Put it back together (fiddly) then soldered the copper horn contact plate onto its switch pin (as i had dremelled the rivited end off) and bolted the unit together using the holes for the dremmeled out rivets.

Took a couple of goes to get everything working once back together as the contact strips for the main/full beam tend to move around. Everything is spring loaded - one of those jobs you need 3 hands for. The auto cancel is particularly bad as it sits on the top of the stalk with two tiny springs that locate on 2 posts above and below the stalk.

there are two adhesive pads stuck to the outside of the unit that you can remove and wedge something (like a small flat bladed screwdriver) in the holes they reveal to prevent the spring loaded brass contact strips from trying to regurgitate the whole mechanism

1st attempt the lights didnt work (contact strip out of position).
2nd attempt full beam was on all the time - possibly an insulator had popped out so I taped up the contact patch that was shorting (top of left contact strip with unit face on).

I'd have paid £25 to avoid the hassle. At least you can fix yours now without taking the car to bits. There's a good chance it will break again and I don't think any kind of glue will work given the thinness of the plastic.