Control rods feel like they're locked in cold glue.

[roccaas]

Worked fine a week ago. Now both are as stiff as my back on a cold morning.

They move, doesn't feel like binding, no noise, just very stiff.

Thanks

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

Dusty, maybe moisture accumulated in the column & freezes in the AM?? A droplight, with a big bulb might dry it out overnight, or a hair drier, blowing on the column??
Bill W.

[John Duden]

Cold grease or oil on the bushings?

[glenn in camino]

sprayem with WD40.

[Joe K]

How do the links (at the lower end) feel? And with them disconnected you should be able to isolate the issue to the column - if that is where it is.

Joe K

[Mike V. Florida]

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

My guess is the upper column bushings.

[Tom Wesenberg]

I agree with Mike that the top bushing is often the problem. The originals are pot metal and swell with age. My 1928 rods were also very tight, but I kept spraying Kroil on the top bushing and lower end by the springs, and with constant use they have loosened up.
I've heard that you don't want to use WD-40 on pot metal, so I never have. I sprayed WD-40 on a bunch of harware I had stored in a plastic case, and the case is now messed up from it.

[Marco Tahtaras]

Originally Posted by glenn in camino

sprayem with WD40.

That is often NOT good! Sometimes the stiffening is due to the potmetal swelling. WD40 is know to CAUSE permanent swelling of Model A potmetal. Keep WD40 FAR AWAY from the upper steering bushing and all key locks, especially the popout.