PLEASE HELP! - Midget steering column removal?

[Nelson_Mead]

Hello.

I am trying to remove the plastic column surround from my '74 Midget in order to get acess to, and replace the key ignition cylendar which has gone bad. How do i go about removing the plastic pieces that enclose the key ignition? I see that there are 2 screws on the plastic, but once those are removed, it still won't budge past the steering wheel without it feeling like they are going to break. Any advice?

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!

~Nelson.

 

[GB1]

Nelson

Welcome to the forum, one work of advise I have found is to do this very carefully. On some models the switch handles pull out (wipers and directionals)and this makes a little easier.

I hope others have better advice and we can both learn from them.

Pat

 

[sparkydave]

I've not had success removing the plastic cowl without pulling the steering column out at least partway. That involves removing two bolts under the dash, 3 bolts under the hood where the shaft comes through the firewall, and the pinch bolt at the steering rack. The pinch bolt took some penetrating oil and some persuasion to get it to let go. Mark the shaft on the steering rack in some way (paint mark, pencil) so you can get the splines lined up without needing to re-align the steering. Even though the flat on the shaft needs to line up with the bolt, you can still be off by 1-2 splines when you slide it back on (ask me how I know ).

Welcome, by the way.

 

[Trevor Jessie]

I think there are a total of 4 screws in the plastic cowl. The back ones can not be reached without pulling the column out as mentioned above.

 

[mccalebr]

Nelson,
I've been inside that cowl...you're right, it's not exactly easy to get in there. There are actually four screws you should be looking at.

Be forewarned...getting in is easier than getting out. There are little locating tabs that keep the two halves in alignment. Remember this when it goes back together and take it slow. Also, the two central screw "posts" are stepped so that one fits inside the other. Alignment has to be spot on for success.

Since a picture is worth a thousand words, I took some quick photos of an extra cowl I bought for my '73...it shows the screws you want to be addressing. I'll put one below, just to get your attention, but you really want to go to the "Whatzit" page on my website for the detailed photos; the address is:

https://www.raysmg.com/rays_mg_midget_whatzit.htm

You (and anyone else wanting this reference) might want to save off the photos as I use this page as a temporary parking place for short term or one-time purpose photos such as these.

Hope this helps,

Ray

 

[Blackjokr]

I must be an idiot..I only see 3 screw posts???

 

[mccalebr]

The third one(at the bottom) is replicated on both halves...they do not connect to each other.

Ray

 

[DrEntropy]

Rather into a "fixture " onna column. THOSE are the "challenging" ones! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smirk.gif