Steering rack preload. UDATED WITH PRELOAD PROCEDURE

[shaunw]

Great, thanks chaps. Looks like I'll need to buy a small torque wrench and a digital measuring tool.

Pete, your method of measuring the turning torque is more or less what I had in mind but I must admit I hadn't considered the need to add the length of the molegrips! Obvious now you've mentioned it How does the maths work for that? I understand the longer the lever the less torque required but what's the calculation. Should have kept my school physics workbooks!
One last thing, do either of you still have the 28mm 'special tool'? More than happy to pay postage and buy you a pint or two next year at LITP.!

Shaun

[Pete Boole]

Probably the easiest way to make a 28mm tool is to buy a short length of 28mm mild steel hexagon bar and cut a bit off - try "kimetals" on fleabay - £7 delivered. You'll need a 28mm socket as well of course!

How long are your Mole grips?

Pete

[DavidOliver]

The preload is measured on the pinion shaft, pulley and loaded piece of string.
To tighten the threaded cup needs very little torque, almost a finger job. I adjusted mine
using the external faces of Stilson adjusted against two internal faces of the threaded cup.
No need for a special tool when you are only doing it once.


Dave the cog

[https://tt76qw.db.files.1drv.com/y4mHSS ... pmode=none][/img]

[DavidOliver]

No luck posting the photograph. Try again.



Dave the cog.

[DavidOliver]

Monday huf!!! The photograph shows torquing a steering box (not rack) but the principle is the same.
I do not have the required torque for the Excel, the spring balance should give a constant reading as the pinion
is rotated.
The cupped socket can almost be adjusted by hand and is not torque measured to achieve the correct pinion drag.
As a minimum you need to have the steering arms disconnected and pressure pipes disconnected. Really a rack out
to do it properly.

Dave the cog.