Steering adjusting rivit.

[Tony S,Fl.]

Got good information from Purdy. I tried moving the rivet but it would not budge even with a breaker bar. Scraped the paint from the backside of the steering box and found the rivet is pinned. Between the rivet and housing there is a pin about 1/8th inch locking it in place. ????????????? Is or was this a common fix ? Tony

[H. L. Chauvin]

Hi Tony,

First time I heard of a pinned steering box rivet; and I never saw a locking pin on the adjustable steering rivet.

But on the other hand, I have seen so many crazy things on unrestored Model A's, like screw drivers driven in the rear axle for a key in the rear axle keyway ...... just to mention one sighting out of many messed up repairs.

When more modern cars came out, worn out Model A's wound up in the hands of the poorest of the poor. Anything could be expected in this "make-do-era" among poor people.

I remember a time when a middle class American would never want to be seen even riding in a Model A rattle trap jalopy, let alone owning one. Almost anything old not too long ago was considered junk & thrown away ...... today, vintage things have far more value now that people are collecting old items.

[Terry, NJ]

That's all true! These cars trickled down (failed economical theory, right?) to the poorest of the poor. who barely kept them running and an oil change was a luxury. Grease? What was that? Something that was on everything underneath and got all over your hands and clothes. It amazes me that any survived. I recall when my cousin's two rolling junk pile, AA s were retired to the field about 1960. Within a year, people were buying parts from them.
Terry

Originally Posted by H. L. Chauvin

Hi Tony,

First time I heard of a pinned steering box rivet; and I never saw a locking pin on the adjustable steering rivet.

But on the other hand, I have seen so many crazy things on unrestored Model A's, like screw drivers driven in the rear axle for a key in the rear axle keyway ...... just to mention one sighting out of many messed up repairs.

When more modern cars came out, worn out Model A's wound up in the hands of the poorest of the poor. Anything could be expected in this "make-do-era" among poor people.

I remember a time when a middle class American would never want to be seen even riding in a Model A rattle trap jalopy, let alone owning one. Almost anything old not too long ago was considered junk & thrown away ...... today, vintage things have far more value now that people are collecting old items.

[RonC]

Typically you don't need to touch the rivet when rebuilding

[ursus]

On all that I have seen the rivet was peined over on the backside and on most it was nearly impossible to turn it. This is the last step in the adjustment process and it may be necessary to turn the eccentris rivet in order to centralize the tooth contact. I used a breaker bar on one and broke off the side of screw portion of the rivet and this was alter getting everything else perfect. Ouch!

I am currious how others deal with this rivet when it seems frozen - heat? penetrant? magic? a deal with the Devil?

[Rowdy]

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If it will not turn, I drill the crimped side out and use a punch to remove it. Order and install a new one. I have only had to do this once. I do not recall it being to hard to accomplish. I have not seen any of the 15 or so I have rebuilt being pinned. Rod

[Purdy Swoft]

Most never try adjusting the centrization rivet. Sometimes adjustment is needed. I've never seen one that had been pinned and have never had a problem turning the rivet. If it has been pinned it may be necessary to replace the steering gear main housing which will be quite involved .