The Ford Barn

Mort · 06-06-2010, 02:38 PM

OK, here we go. I have about 4" of play in my steering wheel and am working to get rid of it. I am using, for reference, Les Andrews book, the Ford service bulletins and Jim Schilds restoration book. I have eliminated everything in the linkage and the play is at the pitman arm. I took some of it out by tightening the pitman arn nut buy still have a little to take out of the worm gear (2 tooth, 1931 coupe). My question has to do with the drag link. I removed it as instructed but it appears to be different than the exploded view in Andrew's book. He illustrates there being an "end plug, then spring, then two ball caps. On my drag link the end cap is all that is there. It seems to fit tight and the back side of the cap is cupped to receive the pitman arm ball as it a plug on the other side of the ball. Is this correct or did someone put in a screwball after marked drag link?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks

Tom Wesenberg · 06-07-2010, 04:57 AM

It sounds like you're saying there is NO spring. Both ends of the drag link and both ends of the tie rod need springs to hold the wear cups tight to the ball. Page 20 in Bratton's latest catalog shows the parts and an exploded view.

Mike V. Florida · 06-07-2010, 05:20 AM

Here are the parts. The bottom set of caps and spring is what you are talking about.

dr.j · 06-07-2010, 07:03 AM

Mort, I have a 2 tooth box on my 28 and the adjustments took care of final play after I ensured nothing moved (no slop) in the tie rods, piman arm and drag link. I had Pam move the wheel right to left while I examined every point while the car was on the ground. I found the pitman arm required tightning, drag link and one tie rod were not quite up to spec. I lifted the front end to adjust the box in order to ensure no binding as per the manual. I have springs on both sides of the balls as Tom suggested.

Bruce · 06-07-2010, 10:07 AM

Be sure the pitman arm is squeezed (bolted) tight ... and check that the steering gear/frame bolts are tight.

Mort · 06-07-2010, 04:53 PM

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OK, that is what I have been able to find about the spring and cup. On this draglink the threaded plug at the end has the cup built into the opposite end and there is not room for a spring and separate cup? Is this something anyone has seen before?

Mike V. Florida · 06-08-2010, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr.j

I have springs on both sides of the balls as Tom suggested.

Do you buy two kits? How do you fit two springs in each end?

Tom Wesenberg · 06-08-2010, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr.j

I have springs on both sides of the balls as Tom suggested.

NO, I said a spring on each end of the tie rod and drag link. ONE spring and 2 cups per ball.

Clydes 31 P/U · 06-08-2010, 05:43 AM

Hi Mort, I have one like you descibe the spring and the wear cup are on the other side of the ball is this how yours was? I'm bad at desribing things but starting from plug side was plug, ball, wear cup and spring. Sound right to anyone?

Mike V. Florida · 06-08-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clydes 31 P/U

Hi Mort, I have one like you descibe the spring and the wear cup are on the other side of the ball is this how yours was? I'm bad at desribing things but starting from plug side was plug, ball, wear cup and spring. Sound right to anyone?

That is good for one side, the other (at least on a 30 and 31) has Plug, spring, wear cap, ball, wear cap. Like the bottom of the picture.

Mort · 06-08-2010, 08:35 PM

Thanks all, the mystery was solved by Clydes, he is absolutely correct. On the rear of the drag-link the order is reversed. It is (from the rear forward), the plug, then the pitman arm ball, then a cup and finally the spring. It is just strange when you take it apart you are expecting to see a spring then a ball, but not so. At least on my 31.

06-06-2010, 02:38 PM	#1
Mort Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 121	Steering Adujust - draglink OK, here we go. I have about 4" of play in my steering wheel and am working to get rid of it. I am using, for reference, Les Andrews book, the Ford service bulletins and Jim Schilds restoration book. I have eliminated everything in the linkage and the play is at the pitman arm. I took some of it out by tightening the pitman arn nut buy still have a little to take out of the worm gear (2 tooth, 1931 coupe). My question has to do with the drag link. I removed it as instructed but it appears to be different than the exploded view in Andrew's book. He illustrates there being an "end plug, then spring, then two ball caps. On my drag link the end cap is all that is there. It seems to fit tight and the back side of the cap is cupped to receive the pitman arm ball as it a plug on the other side of the ball. Is this correct or did someone put in a screwball after marked drag link? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

06-07-2010, 04:57 AM	#2
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink It sounds like you're saying there is NO spring. Both ends of the drag link and both ends of the tie rod need springs to hold the wear cups tight to the ball. Page 20 in Bratton's latest catalog shows the parts and an exploded view.

06-07-2010, 05:20 AM	#3
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Here are the parts. The bottom set of caps and spring is what you are talking about. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

06-07-2010, 07:03 AM	#4
dr.j Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, ON, Canada Posts: 315	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Mort, I have a 2 tooth box on my 28 and the adjustments took care of final play after I ensured nothing moved (no slop) in the tie rods, piman arm and drag link. I had Pam move the wheel right to left while I examined every point while the car was on the ground. I found the pitman arm required tightning, drag link and one tie rod were not quite up to spec. I lifted the front end to adjust the box in order to ensure no binding as per the manual. I have springs on both sides of the balls as Tom suggested. __________________ Dave A Jamieson Portland, ON Canada 1928 Tudor

06-07-2010, 10:07 AM	#5
Bruce Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sun City West, AZ Posts: 489	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Be sure the pitman arm is squeezed (bolted) tight ... and check that the steering gear/frame bolts are tight.

06-07-2010, 04:53 PM	#6
Mort Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 121	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) OK, that is what I have been able to find about the spring and cup. On this draglink the threaded plug at the end has the cup built into the opposite end and there is not room for a spring and separate cup? Is this something anyone has seen before?

06-08-2010, 05:43 AM	#9
Clydes 31 P/U Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: northern Il Posts: 302	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Hi Mort, I have one like you descibe the spring and the wear cup are on the other side of the ball is this how yours was? I'm bad at desribing things but starting from plug side was plug, ball, wear cup and spring. Sound right to anyone?

06-08-2010, 08:35 PM	#11
Mort Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Torrington, CT Posts: 121	Re: Steering Adujust - draglink Thanks all, the mystery was solved by Clydes, he is absolutely correct. On the rear of the drag-link the order is reversed. It is (from the rear forward), the plug, then the pitman arm ball, then a cup and finally the spring. It is just strange when you take it apart you are expecting to see a spring then a ball, but not so. At least on my 31.