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Posted By Discussion Topic: '40 steering column woodruff key? -- page: 1 2     Flatbob 11-18-2013 @ 7:12 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 437 Joined: Oct 2009 Is the Woodruff key suppose to be at the 12 o'clock or 6o'clock position. Mine is at the 6 o'clock position, if it's suppose to be at 12 o'clock can I rotate 180 without taking steering gear box out of the car? kubes40 11-19-2013 @ 5:59 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3395 Joined: Oct 2009 It should be at 6:00 o'clock. It's possible that whomever installed the shaft did not center it properly. You will have to remove the knuckle (drag link)at the pitman arm. After the link is removed, turn the wheel all the way in one direction. Carefully, turn it the opposite way and count the revolutions. Should be just over 4. NOW, turn it back half the total revolutions. That key should be at or very near the 6 o'clock position. If it's close, move it to 6 o'clock. At this point, you'll need to adjust the length of the drag link until it goes in to the pitman arm without moving it (arm). Mike Kubarth This message was edited by kubes40 on 11-20-13 @ 6:27 PM Flatbob 11-19-2013 @ 8:50 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 437 Joined: Oct 2009 Mike, thanks for responding. What you suggest is exactly what I did and ended up with the woodruff keyway at the 6 o'clock position. Before installing the box if I remember correctly, I replaced bearings and gaskets but didn't remove worm gear. Is it possible to get shaft 180 degrees out when I put it back together? wmsteed 11-19-2013 @ 9:02 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 It would seem to me that it is very possible to get the steering worm out of proper alignment... Been a long time since I had one apart, however, the worm gear/shaft would not know where to index, because there is no limit stop until it goes into the case and makes contact with the sector assembly.. Bill 36 5 win delx cpe This message was edited by wmsteed on 11-19-13 @ 9:03 AM Flatbob 11-19-2013 @ 10:13 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 437 Joined: Oct 2009 Bill, I was wondering about how the limit stops worked, now I know it's internally in the box. Am wondering if I can remove endplate on steering box and let shaft slide down & rotate the shaft 180* to get keyway at the 12 o'clock position? Ay ideas? When the worm gear is pressed onto the shaft is there only one way it can go on the shaft? Can I correct this problem with steering gear box still on the frame? This message was edited by Flatbob on 11-19-13 @ 10:10 PM wmsteed 11-20-2013 @ 8:36 AM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 613 Joined: Oct 2009 As I stated in my earlier comments to this topic, it has been many years since I last took a EFV8 steering gear apart, however, common sense tells me that if the unit is assembled wrong, it will have to be taken apart and re-assembled to correct the problem.. I don't think it makes much difference if the horn button was made incorrectly, i.e., upside down, the steering wheel has to index with the key-way at 12 o'clock or it to will be 180 degrees off... It's a fact of life, that two wrongs do not make something right... Bill 36 5 win delx cpe Flatbob 11-20-2013 @ 10:38 AM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 437 Joined: Oct 2009 Just discovered the woodruff key is suppose to be at the 6'oclock position. Repo. '40 wheel hub is machined incorrectly making the horn button upside down when installed. supereal 11-20-2013 @ 2:58 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 6819 Joined: Oct 2009 It is doubtful the the steering wheel hub was incorrectly machined. When the steering gear is installed, the steering wheel should be put in place, and centered before the pitman arm and linkage is attached. With front wheels in the straight ahead position, the pitman and the drag link are adjusted to fit without moving the steering wheel or front wheels. If not possible, the shaft and worm are out of place. A better idea is that the worm was pressed on the shaft upside down if the assembly seems 180 degrees out of normal. This message was edited by supereal on 11-20-13 @ 3:00 PM Flatbob 11-20-2013 @ 3:09 PM reply profile send p.m. Member Posts: 437 Joined: Oct 2009 Super, whoever made the repo. wheel didn't realize that when the wheel is installed the Woodruff keyway is at the 6 o'clock position rather than the 12 o'clock position on the steering shaft, thus when the horn button is installed it's upside down. Just going to live with upside down horn button. kubes40 11-20-2013 @ 6:30 PM reply profile send p.m. Senior Posts: 3395 Joined: Oct 2009 Flatbob, I owe you a huge apology. Earlier I had advised the wheel (key way) was at 12 o'clock. Well, I was wrong. I hate to admit but my memory (the lack thereof at times) scares me. I am so sorry for misleading you. The key is in reality at 6 o'clock when the steering gear is centered. SORRY!!!!

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