strange steering feel after new coupler

[Fairmounter]

I had my steering coupler replaced and now when I turn left the steering is immediate and responsive, but when i turn right i have to turn the wheel almost half a turn before it starts to turn. Any ideas on what would cause it to be loose one way and not the other? Thanks much
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1973 Westy Tintop

[SGKent]

sounds like someone screwed up the installation
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[Fairmounter]

[Wildthings]

Was anything else done, like a wheel alignment? Have you checked your tire pressures?

[Jetfxr69]

Whoever did it, got your gearbox off center. When they took everything apart, they allowed the steering wheel to rotate away from where it was, and then rebolted. I would imagine they got all the bolts back together, but either pull the dome cover from above ( 2 screws) and/or the splash pan below, and verify all 4 bolts are installed.

And then take it back to them
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You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[Fairmounter]

[SGKent]

[Jetfxr69]

[Fairmounter]

[Fairmounter]

Am I correct in assuming that there should be a cotter pin going through the castle nut?
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1973 Westy Tintop

[Wildthings]

I have never heard of a Pitman arm coming loose, that nut should be bum f*ck tight, I am sure it can happen though if someone is delinquent.

Once you get the Pitman arm aligned and installed correctly you may have to adjust the length of the drag link. With the steering box centered and Pitman arm aligned with the arrow, you want the wheels to point straight ahead. Straightening the steering wheel is the last step.

[Jetfxr69]

If that nut was loose, then his mechanic pulled that arm off to “align” the wheels. Whats unknown is if he pulled it off to reset it in proper mark position ( doubt it), or thought that it would straighten wheels instead of drag link adjustment.

Regardless, its a scary thing to find loose. Crank that nut down and maybe your all set. Good luck and dont go back to that guy.
_________________
You can't be a real country unless you have a beer and an airline. It helps if you have some kind of a football team, or some nuclear weapons, but at the very least you need a beer. Zappa

‘77 westy Seamus
‘76 tintop Crusher
‘77 westy The Judge
‘72 tintop bastard westy Hudson

[babysnakes]

[Wildthings]

Looking in the manual the nut requires 140 NM of torque or 101 Ft*Lbs of torque, this is the minimum torque, you may need to apply more to get the cotter pin in. You need a decent combo wrench or socket set to apply this much torque. Just don't tighten it down with a 12" adjustable wrench and think you have it.

[Abscate]

[Fairmounter]

[SGKent]

you will need to look carefully at the arm and the shaft. There are small stamped marks that align. The mark on top of the gearbox and the rubber puck with a raised area are not the marks being referred to on the drop arm and the shaft. It may take a very strong puller to pull the arm off. The nut torques to 101 ft lbs. You will need a torque wrench and a really big socket that fits to do this. You leave the nut loose but on when you go to pull the arm because it will sound like a small rifle shot when it pops loose. Then you align the marks and put it back on. If the steering isn't centered then you use the drag link to center it.
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"Most people don't know what they're doing, and a lot of them are really good at it." - George Carlin

[Fairmounter]

I am not seeing the marks stamped on the shaft and arm. is it on the end of the shaft? The nut is bigger than my biggest 1/2" socket. I will need to get a socket tomorrow. Does anyone know what size the bolt is?
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1973 Westy Tintop

[Zed999]

When you do tighten it, do not simply allow the arm/box to run to the end of it's travel and heave against that or you could/will damage the box. Get a piece of pipe to slide over the arm and hold it tight or arrange such that the pipe jams against the floor or other convenient stop.

[Wildthings]