VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1929-1932 Eccentric Bolt Adjustment

OK, I'm putting my steering box on my 1931 back together. When it came to the Eccentric bolt, the instructions say: To remove play between the worm and selector, disconnect the drag link from the pitman arm and turn the steering wheel to a straight ahead position which is exactly midway of its travel. Loosen the housing nuts ¼ turn and the eccentric bolt nut ½ turn.

Next, place an open end wrench on the eccentric sleeve and turn them in opposite directions a slight amount at a time until all play has been removed. Care should be exercised not to get this adjustment too tight since an adjustment that is too tight will damage the gears. The amount of play between the worm and selector can be checked frequently during the adjustment operation by moving the pitman arm backward and forward.

Now here's my problem - the housing with worm gear and sector shaft are installed together. Still out of the car, how should I tighten the eccentric bolt before I tighten up all the other nuts and bolts.

I know that is meant to properly mate the worm gear and the sector shaft to prevent wear. I just am not sure how I do that at this stage.

Any ideas?

I had mine out of the car last year for a sector gear replacement. I recall placing the gear assembly in a vise, had everything back together with the steering wheel and pitman arm attached loosely, then found the wheel center position (marked with white tape) and then turned the eccentric nut in opposite direction as you described to remove play. Then I snugged down everything , then put it back on the car.
When I put the assembly back on the car, I re-adjusted the eccentric bolt again, with the Pitman arm attached, checking for play as per the manual.
My memory is not the best here...others may have a better procedure.

Crank: I am working on my steering too.
I can't get the slack out of the steering wheel.
I removed the carb. then installed a new shaft arm
I put the arm in then lower the worm gear on the arm with the
arm teeth up. snug up the bolts, then snug up the side screw.
then you can adjust the howsing bolt. But I am not having any
luck with the slack.
advice please
Dulty

Did you replace the bushings? Check the shaft for wear. The majority of looseness in the steering gear is due to wear on one of those parts. Don't often see enough wear on gears that can't be adjusted out.

Crank: I had a couple inches play in the steering wheel, so tried adjusting the gear box side screw & the eccentric nuts.
Now I thinking I might need a new worm gear, but this one looks OK. I hate to take out the pan, steering column, gen. if I don't need to. I put in a new steering shaft and the bushing are good. Whenever I get the slack out, then the turning is too tight. If I loosen the tightness, the slack is back.
It is a beautiful Cabriolet convt. runs great. has all the goodies on it.
Dulty

How much play is in your steering wheel.
My front wheels started to shimmy when I hit certain bumps.
so I went to work on the gear box. and can't fix the play.
My rods are tight. Running out of ideas.
Dulty

I have a nos truck shaft , 7" long for 31 if you need it. I bought it for my 31 chevy, but it has a 1 1/8 shaft. too big
for my car.
Dulty

yes I have good bushings & new shaft to pitman arm. I played with the eccentrics but can't find a perfect fit.
I am out of ideas, might need another worm gear & don't know it yet.
thanks
dulty

Send your email address to me (petezete@aol.com) and I will send you a copy of the information I have been writing on this subject. It's not finished yet, but it will help you at this stage.

By the way, you shouldn't have to remove the carb or the splash pans to get the steering wheel column out. Take it out in the interior side after you disconnect the pitman arm and the sector shaft bolts. You may have to remove the air cleaner also.

I checked to take it out the interior , but I don't think I can get the gear box through the floor.
Dulty

Yes, you will have to take the toe board out. I think it's less than taking everything else out.