Steering Column

Column with full spacers

 I spent some time yesterday fiddling with the steering column. I test fitted the control stalks and the surround when I realized that the column shaft had to be compressed against the large spring in order to fit the steering wheel hub. I made a collar to fit the shaft so that I could use a nut to run down the shaft and compress the spring. But before I actually did this I jumped on my bike, because it was a nice day, and rode down to the hardware store that is five miles away. I purchased some shorter M5x1.0 screws for the stalk attachments and also for the fuel sensor. I also purchased a non-locking nut for the steering shaft so that I would not waste the supplied nyloc nut during this trial assembly. Once back home I slipped the collar I had made onto the steering shaft and ran-down the non-locking nut, which compressed the spring. Then I was able to anchor the column on the two attach bolts except not using the nylon spacers. So then, when I backed off the steering nut the spring tension was transferred to the column attachment bolts and the steering shaft was proud by about two inches. That was fine then for fitting the surround and then the steering hub, making it fast with the same non-locking nut. So now that the hub is taking the spring pressure the column can be re-aligned with the spacers. The final result is that the shaft is made a couple of inches shorter and the steering bushing now has slop which I will have to take up with the spring clip. None of this is explained in the Assembly Guide, BTW.

Column with full spacers

So I looked up anything I could find in Richard's GBS Zero blog and found this post Replace steering column bush about his travails with the plastic bushing wearing out. I had the same thoughts as I was assembling my bushing but now I have the added understanding of how the spring clip takes some thrust load and can slip during operation. I think I will get a better backing collar with a set screw for the shaft so that I can keep the bushing from getting sloppy. I will just have to see if it interferes with the brake pedal.
 It seems to me that the column spacers would be appropriate for the standard steering wheel hub and removing the spacers would be about right for using the quick release hub. It looks like the plane of the steering wheel will end up very near the position of the stick shift - so that's good ergonomics. I don't think I will need any extension between the transmission and the shift gear lever.

I also decided that I want to get non-locking nuts to fit up all the components so that I can make sure that everything is aligned correctly before comitting to final assembly with the locking nuts. My next trip to the hardware store will need a list. 

I took out the Momo steering wheel. Its a nice piece and makes me excited to drive this thing. There is a RFID chip embedded in the wheel for verification of authenticity. It worked with my phone just fine and I now have a certificate of authenticity from Momo.

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