Aftermarket Steering Wheel

[Don_R]

Hi all,

Went and purchased an aftermarket wheel for my 73 Spit.

The mounting boss fits the splines but it grounds out the horn slip ring.

How have any of you handled the horn issue

 

[TR4nut]

I don't know if the Spitfire is the same as a TR4, but on a TR, you can loosen the clamp between the upper steering column and the lower and bring the wheel slightly closer to you. I had to do that on my TR4 a while back when I tried out a Motolita wheel.

Randy

 

[Don_R]

Randy,

Thought about that but i would need to drop the outer column about 1.5". there is that much movement in the inner shaft.

If I pull the slip ring I can get things to mount but then its no horn or a piece of wire that would get wrapped up in the column.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Don, I'm still a bit confused; is the hub of the new wheel substantially thicker than the original, or ???? Overall, there's more than 1.5" of adjustment possible -- probably at least twice that.

 

[Don_R]

Andy,

I'll give you the rundown and tell me where I am screwing this up.

Pulled the wheel. Put the new hub on the shaft. Problem is the shaft will slide down and the back of the hub makes contact with the horn slip ring and turn on the horn. Looked at the column and there is about 1.5" of slip at the firewall where the upper and lower column come together.

The new hub has a different outer taper and overall is a little longer than the factory Spit wheel

The outer column looks like it is in the correct position and the wheel location is right for my driving position.


Got the wheel from an English vendor with the hub for a pre 1975 Spitfire.

 

[Andrew Mace]

Ah! The shaft shouldn't be sliding on its own! Take a look at items 7-12 on this diagram on the Canley Classics web site; those items comprise the clamp that is or should be holding the inner column (top half) in place. See also a related thread on column adjustment here on BCF.

Unless I'm completely misunderstanding you....

 

[Don_R]

Andy,

You should have heard a loud pop as my head removed itself from its former location. The darn set screw was loose. Gave it a quick tighten with my UNBRAKO 3/16 allen and no more movement. And to think I read the adjustment post and it never entered my mind that the problem was the set screw.

Now to modify the hub for the horn contact, the hole for it is to big.

Thanks again

 

[Andrew Mace]

Gave it a quick tighten with my UNBRAKO 3/16 allen and no more movement.

Wow, you actually HAVE an UNBRAKO allen wrench? Cool. :wink:

You're welcome, but don't feel too badly about it. We've all had our heads in similar locations at one time or another.