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Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel
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Whaanga
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 6:39 pm    Post subject: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

As seen in the photo, my steering wheel is not at the 9:00/3:00 position. The bus drives straight down the road but the wheel is off-centered.

What variables might effect this?
How do I go about troublshooting/asdressing this issue?

Thanks,

Jeff
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hazetguy
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 6:55 pm    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

Replaced the drag link recently? That looks like one turn of the adjustable end of the drag link will make the steering wheel straight.
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Whaanga
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:38 pm    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

Thanks for the reply - I've had the bus for two years and this is how it came.
I'm a newbie so have not done anything to the drag link. Will do some homework and learn about how to do this adjustment.
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aeromech
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:45 pm    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

Simple solution is to remove the SW and clock it. Problem is sometimes they are hard to pull off
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 7:52 pm    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

To do this right, you need to center the steering gear exactly to see what's off? The center link, the steering wheel, etc.

My bus had someone in it's past remove the steering wheel. I removed it and centered the steering gear with the pitman arm also removed. I then centered the steering gear. Then adjusted the center link to close as possible wheels straight ahead. Then bolted the steering wheel back on centered correctly.
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aeromech
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PostPosted: Wed May 02, 2018 8:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

Do you want split hairs and get all scientific on this or get done? It’s a bit complicated otherwise.
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telford dorr
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PostPosted: Thu May 03, 2018 1:05 am    Post subject: Re: Diagnosing an off-center steering wheel Reply with quote

Jack the front end of the bus up and put it on stands. Rotate the steering wheel back and forth through the straight ahead position, feeling for the steering gear "tight spot". This is where the steering gear will have the least "play", the steering will be the most stable, the wheels should be straight forward and the steering wheel should be at 9:00-3:00. Rotate the steering wheel on it's splines to adjust. Adjust the drag link for straight travel. (This can be somewhat coarse. If you have adjustable tie rods both left and right, you can get it exact.)
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