'55-'60? steering lock question

Clara · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12671

This is a pic from under the dash showing locking column in a bus w/o steering lock.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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The Obsolete Air-Cooled Documentation Project http://oacdp.org/

schnidlee · Samba Member Joined: January 23, 2008 Posts: 82

I thought I would put up a couple of pictures of how I did my locking collar.

I had shortened the steering column for a steering box raise and positioned my join about 30mm above where the slot in the collar needed to be.

A good friend helped me turn up the collar which is a press fit and has a larger OD than the original shells/collar but that should really just make it stronger.

the slot in the collar was lined up with the keyway and then TIG'd around the top and bottom as well as 4 big plug welds. Locking collar and gusset all in one.

BarryL · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 11:16 am Post subject:

I reckon mine must be worn away or whatnot. It starts to drop in at about 2 degrees to the right and finishes at about 30 degrees. I don't like it when it is sprung loaded and I never release the lock without taking the tension off the steering wheel. It's a '65 also and the latest lock tongue is hardly worn. I'm guessing that a lot of abuse before me widened it?

Clara · Samba Member Joined: June 14, 2003 Posts: 12671

zimblewinder · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 3:22 am Post subject:

looks spot on Greg. Nice work.

So Greg when youve worked out the sheer bolts reqd would you get some for me? I can dig these out to measure them off too. I havent been able to find any here in Oz.
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58Euro 23 343208 The Ultimate Zimblewinder Machine.
59 mango standard
Wanted- splash pan supports, og pressed bumper coach bolts, ivory blaupunkt knobs (early), armrest alloy strips, NOS door mechanism

dstefun · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:57 am Post subject:

Lookin' good, Greg! Always happy to see great craftmanship!

campingbox · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 9:25 am Post subject:

BarryL · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

Man that is some nice work. Is the perfectly centered steering wheel a cosmetic thing or what?. My later style locking one only locks in a non centered position; rumor has it so a thief could only go in a circle. Of course, yours is easy cuz you'll always know where to turn it to to lock it straight or turned.

campingbox · Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject:

I finally finished the steering lock shells and welded them on. What a pain.

I took some steel pipe with a 20mm I.D. and cut it in half. Cut to length. The technical bullitin calls for the shells to have a .33" gap (+/- .020") on each side. Both shells need to be totally identical in size, have lines that are parralel to each other and parallel to themselves. I ended up using a grinder to get them close, and then did the finishwork with a file and some 60 grit sandpaper laid out on a piece of glass. Welding them to the column was a challenge as well. If you want the steering wheel to be perfectly centered when locked you need to get it dead nuts in line with the keyway in the column. I ended up using two angle finders to make sure the keyway was in line with the center of the slot, and that the second slot was exactly 180 degrees off of that.

campingbox · Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:06 am Post subject:

If anyone knows the length of the locking shells on a '61 and older steering lock let me know. I estimated them at 2.75" long based on the drawing/measurements in the technical bullitin, but if anyone knows for certain let me know. I plan to weld the shells on tomorrow. I know, it will all get hidden inside the box but I'm O.C.D. and it will bother me knowing they aren't 100%.

BarryL · Posted: Fri Feb 22, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

I've found metric and SAE shear-bolts at better lock shops like Grah Safe and Lock by my house. Moss Motors in Goleta, California has some also. You might try them if you want to see what they're willing to part out. I've made some by "veeing" regular bolts but I was sorry afterwards when I wanted to take it off.

zimblewinder · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:29 pm Post subject:

OK did some measuring.

From the top of the steering shaft to the top of the hole in the column tube is 210mm
The slot is 20mm long
The top of the shaft is exposed 40mm (out of the column)

so for just the column tube
the top of the hole is 170mm down the column (ie. 210mm down the shaft from the very top.)

The shells are seam welded along the curved edge in a continuos weld top and bottom and run from above the column hole to below the column hole.

Hope that makes sense.

Cheers
_________________
58Euro 23 343208 The Ultimate Zimblewinder Machine.
59 mango standard
Wanted- splash pan supports, og pressed bumper coach bolts, ivory blaupunkt knobs (early), armrest alloy strips, NOS door mechanism

campingbox · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject:

zimblewinder · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:54 pm Post subject:

Hi Those shells look the part. Good work. The tolerance of the bolt in the gap isnt that good. Maybe 1-1.5mm play left/right once its locked.

Keep in touch about the sheer bolts.

Thanks
dale
_________________
58Euro 23 343208 The Ultimate Zimblewinder Machine.
59 mango standard
Wanted- splash pan supports, og pressed bumper coach bolts, ivory blaupunkt knobs (early), armrest alloy strips, NOS door mechanism

campingbox · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:24 am Post subject: Re: steering column locks

campingbox · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 11:22 am Post subject:

ebuscopaulian · Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 10:12 am Post subject: steering column locks

greg, paul in slc! hey sent $ yesterday for the hinges-could i get the upper section as well? hey i sent that og paint velvet gn/white 65 hardtop westy to my friend in the portland area (the one clara liked in my carport in slick city...)anyway it has a factory steering lock that appears to be completely unmolested-his name is craig and his # is 503-550-6278...p

zimblewinder · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 4:59 am Post subject:

Hey Greg, Thats my bus in the first photo. Sorry I was late to chime in, only just read this. The shells dont have any number stampings that I could find. They were pretty basic and only brazed on fairly loosly. The Tech bulletin describes it fairly well. You could easily make a set of the shells as you only need the i.d. and the slot gap required front and back for the bolt to drop home into. Ley me know if you need any more info. The bolt isnt that tight, with a little play/rotation in the slot but no one will be driving off in it.

By the way. Anyone have a source for the sheer bolts?

Cheers
dale
_________________
58Euro 23 343208 The Ultimate Zimblewinder Machine.
59 mango standard
Wanted- splash pan supports, og pressed bumper coach bolts, ivory blaupunkt knobs (early), armrest alloy strips, NOS door mechanism

mr. warehouse · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:23 pm Post subject:

DaveB · Posted: Tue Dec 04, 2007 7:17 pm Post subject:

Thanks Greg
I've got a steering box with no pay that is being shortened 1.5 inches. So I didn't want to pull mine to see what is the "back" of the shaft.
Don't have a lock yet, going to look for one of the Brazilian units.
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Dave Brooks
USAF Retired
1966 Custom Camper


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