TR2/3/3A Is this normal wiring on front of steering box on TR3A?

[TuffTR250]

Is this normal wiring on the front of the TR3A steering box? It doesn't seem right to have the wires all twisted like that. The shielding around the wires is quite stiff and will not straighten easily. Thanks!

 

[bobhustead]

I would disconnect the wires at the bullet connectors and get the twist out. Check the individual wires for missing insulation and repair any such finds. Then I would put a large piece of heat shrink tube over the harness, push it into the tube, and shrink it on.
Bob

 

[CJD]

Ouch! It looks like someone thought the control head screwed on.

 

[Kleykamp]

Looks like the stator tube is turning inside the column. Have someone watch the wires and see if they move when you turn the wheels. I don't think the stator tube is supposed to stick that far beyond the nut, if any. May be a missing compression fitting behind the nut. Agree, take the wires loose at the bullet connectors and get the twist out. The stator tube should stay stationary inside the column when the wheel is turned.

 

[CJD]

Looks like the stator tube is turning inside the column. Have someone watch the wires and see if they move when you turn the wheels.

Easier way is to just look at the turn signal knob at the wheel to see if it moves when the wheel turns.

The interesting thing is that normally the wire would wind and unwind when turning the wheel back and forth. I'm at a loss to figure out how it got twisted in one direction only...!?!

 

[TuffTR250]

Thanks! I'm glad I asked about this! A question, is the "stator tube" the brass tube coming out of the front of the steering box with the wires coming out of it? Regards,
Bob

 

[CJD]

Yes, but it's actually steel and runs from the bottom ,in your picture, all the way to the horn/signal control head at the top. The nut at the bottom should lock it, and the stator, in turn, locks the control head from turning...and twisting your wires.

 

[TR3driver]

Yes, but it's actually steel and runs from the bottom ,in your picture, all the way to the horn/signal control head at the top. The nut at the bottom should lock it, and the stator, in turn, locks the control head from turning...and twisting your wires.

That is certainly the way it should be; and yet it looks like copper in your photo. Makes me wonder if some DPO didn't try to make his own tube from copper (they were NLA for many years).

There should be a slot at the control head end. The control head should have a slightly larger tube that fits over the stator tube and has dimples that engage the slot. The base of that slot is the most common place for them to break (weakest point and all that). If the tube is broken (or has been replaced), you should probably also look at the turn signal cancel mechanism inside the control head. I believe that binding in the mechanism is the common cause for the tube breaking.

Note that there are two different tubes, depending on whether you have the "adjustable" steering wheel or not. The adjustable version has a longer slot.
(Photo from Macy's Garage, which AFAIK is also the only source of new tubes)

 

[CJD]

Thanks Randall. The stator is broke on my new project...good to know they can be bought if its too far gone to fix!

 

[mrv8q]

Thanks Randall. The stator is broke on my new project...good to know they can be bought if its too far gone to fix!

Here you go:
https://macysgarage.com/myweb6/Parts/other_tr2_3_parts.htm#TR2/3 Stator Tube
Thanks to Randall for the photo. Never realized how narrow the stator tube really is.

 

[TuffTR250]

I checked the tube coming out the front of my steering box and it is definitely steel since a magnet held to it. I took the big nut off the front of the steering box and there is a compression fitting around the tube behind the big nut. Right now I don't have anyone around to watch the steering box while I turn the steering rod to see if the wires are twisting. I may have to set up a big mirror in front of the car.

I'm going to have to study up on how the steering wheel and turn signal pieces all fit together before I try to take anything apart. Looks like I have another project to work on that I was not expecting.
Regards,
Bob

 

[TexasKnucklehead]

I think you have something else to look at, unless the oil drained when you removed that big nut -unless you managed to not disturb the fitting. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would expect the steering box oil to drain.

 

[CJD]

The wires cannot twist unless the control head turns. Does the control head turn with the steering wheel? It should not. You will need to retighten the nut before you check.