Steering column & Stador Tube

"Statler" was involved in a front-end collision and maybe had some vandalism. So the steering column is bent (about 15 degrees). It still turns the front wheels. I have procured a rebuilt steering box and column without a stador tube and am now left with two problems.

1. The steering wheel is stuck on the old column and I cannot get the thing off.

2. The stador tube in the column will also be bent. It can be pulled down the box about a foot. I assume it is stopping at one of the spacers (Chinese lanterns).

Should I try to save the column to have it straightened (cut up the steering wheel) or should I try to save the steering wheel and stador tube (cut the column near the steering wheel and then pull out the stador tube)? Or should I save both ( how do I get the wheel off)?

Paul

Well, you've already sourced a new column, so I don't see the benefit in trying to save the old one. The stator tube is not supposed to come out of the steering box end anyway, so it's no surprise that yours doesn't. What happens if you try to pull it up through the wheel (which is the way it should come out anyway) ?

For the steering wheel, what I would do is to assemble a "bearing separator"
https://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93980
so it catches on the lip of the wheel at the column (flat side against the wheel). You may have to take the steering box loose from the frame and scoot the whole assembly through the firewall a few inches to get clearance between the wheel and dash for this operation. Then assemble the puller with some extensions for the legs (coupling nuts & long bolts from a hardware store) and drop a bolt or something into the end of the column for the forcing screw to bear against. That should pop it right off.

If the stator tube is too far gone (or you can't get it out), new ones are available from Macy's garage.

Apologies if this is too obvious for words, but JIC ... you DO have the control head off, and the big nut for the steering wheel off, right?

Randall
The end of the column is filled with junk (rust/grease). Should you push the stador tube up the column and then be able to grab it or will you have to fish it out? I was afraid a puller would damage the wheel (but what do I have to loose). My dash is already out of the car (since the column was bent, that was no problem.

Thank-you
I'll give it a shot in the am.

Paul

apbos said:

Should you push the stador tube up the column and then be able to grab it or will you have to fish it out?

Click to expand...

Might be different for the 'adjustable' wheel; but for the fixed wheels the stator tube should be just long enough to grab. If not, poke a punch or something through the gland to push it up a bit farther.

Aloha,

The stator tubes are very similar. The adjustable steering wheel version has a longer slot in it so the control head can move in and out of it. On the adjustable steering wheel, the steering wheel is prevented from slipping off the steering column by a cir-clip retainer fitted in the splines near the end of the steering column.

Paul, Did you find what you needed for your car? I found 3 long column steering assemblies in my storage building yesterday, If you need parts let me know. Good Luck, Bill C. Mesa, Az.

Bill
Got the stator out and it is in good shape. Now all I have to do is get the wheel off. I have a good box and column so I should be in good shape.

Thanks
Paul

Hi I have a tr-3 with an adjustable column and would like to convert it to a fixed steering column, I understand that I have to change the whole column. Do you have a complete column?
Thanks,
Captainde