steering

[aussie merc]

Heres the long and short of it , removed the steer wheel and changed the top column bush had a bit of a hard time but got the wheel off /refitted wheel and now sits 3/16 or there abouts higher is it possible that ive moved the shaft in the worm and if so will i have to strip the box in order to reset shaft back into the worn [PS mercury steering and wheel so now the lock wont engage in the wheel ] any ideas?

[Terry,OH]

Hard to imagine the steering shaft moving. More likely the wheel is not on completely. Is the Woodruff key in the same key way it came out of? Did you have to remove the key and it may not be down all the way now, preventing the wheel from going onto the shaft all the way.

[fastone371]

Agree with Terry, if the Woodruff key didn’t seat fully or got turned a hair, the wheel might not sit flush. Also worth checking if the new bushing is sitting slightly proud or binding up the shaft somehow. You shouldn’t have to tear into the box unless something really shifted, and that’s rare just from doing the column top. I’d start by pulling the wheel again and checking for contact points or resistance going back on.

[rich b]

If the wheel is seated on the steering shaft properly; any chance you just slid the column tube down while driving in the new bushing. May explain why the steering lock is not engaging. Maybe loosen the collar at the box, pull up on the dash at the column drop and see if anything moves.

[Outback]

That sounds like a likely situation.

[19Fordy]

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Does the steering wheel fit properly without the key?

[Kube]

My guess is the bushing is not down the column far enough.
Place a small amount of grease on the hub of the wheel and install the wheel w/o the key. Pull the wheel back off and see if there was contact with the grease.

[TJ]

I think rich b may have the answer. I had the same thought that the column slipped down and this is why the column lock will not engage.

[Ggmac]

Could the column have moved ?

[Kube]

Not knowing what year, I can only offer some generic advice.
If it's a three on the tree, that would make it a tad difficult for the column to "slip down".
Also, unless the steering column integral ignition lock assembly was loosened as well as the clamp at the end of the column, well, I'd find it very difficult to believe the column "slipped down".
Aussie, if you only removed the steering wheel to swap out the bushing, try the grease trick I'd mentioned earlier.
Methinks too many are overthinking this....

[aussie merc]

year model 39, key or no key no difference

[Kube]

Originally Posted by aussie merc

year model 39, key or no key no difference

Aussie, did you try my "grease" trick as yet?
With the wheel on and the key in place, did you turn the wheel a bit to take any load off of the lock?

[aussie merc]

with mercury the lock engages in the underside of the wheel hub not the shaft hence the whole problem

[Kube]

Originally Posted by aussie merc

with mercury the lock engages in the underside of the wheel hub not the shaft hence the whole problem

Okay, but did you attempt to install the wheel as yet w/o the key in the slot and a smear for grease to see if the bushing is not down far enough?

[aussie merc]

measured the depth of the old one and set the new bush to the same depth so it should be correct I think maybe the outer has slipping is on the correct path as the light switch and horn set correctly to the wheel will try to raise the outer as i dont want to go thru removing the horn rod again [thats FUN!]