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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - removing steering column ('70 midget)

is it just a case of undoing the clamp near the steering rack then pulling out through the dash ?

the reason I'm doing this is that the center part of the steering wheel is stuck to the column which is making the aftermarket Momo boss I have a bit tricky :)

If I try and putt the column out through the dash, it only moves about 10mm off the splines on the rack then stops. Do I need to try a bit harder ?

I have undone the clamp under the dash and removed the indicator assembly etc :)
phil near bristol

Phil,

Have you REMOVED the bolt on the rack splines ?

The bolt sits in a recess in between splined sections of the rack spindle - so bolt must be removed completely.

Have you tried a puller on the existing wheel (I'm not a fan of hammers/pulling the wheel myself and later columns are collapsible also - see archives).

Richard.
richard boobier

ah, no, not removed the bolt, just undid and removed the nut, will try that when I get home.

I've tried various pullers, but the shape of the original 'boss' means there isn't anywhere to really 'grip' in order to get decent leverage on it.


also, which bit of north somerset are you ? I'm in BS49 :)
phil near bristol

Phil,

BS21 7ER.
Clevedon.

I've got some pulleys if you get stuck - or its fairly easy to make up something to go behind the boss etc.

01275 872585 if you want a chat/help.

Richard.


richard boobier

Phil,
Sometimes it is easier to simply re-work the new wheel to fit the MG hub...
David "don't ask" Lieb
David Lieb

I did hear that if you pour boiling water over the boss, it expands quicker than the column, thereby making it easier to remove. I haven't tried it, though.
Dave O'Neill 2

One method is to have someone pull on the wheel with both hands while you hit the column centre with a drift of some sort. If you try this, DO NOT REMOVE the nut, as the wheel will come off with some force. Just undo it a couple of turns, enough for the boss to come loose. Put some copperslip grease on the splines when you replace it. Makes later removal easier!
Cheers John
JOHN HALL & JULIE ROBERTS

John, Many years ago in my youth I was removing a sttering wheel from my Sprite. I removed the nut and pulled the wheel hard. It did come off, and used the bridge of my nose as a braking point. Seriously, NOT to be recommended.

Phil, undo the nut until it if flush with the end of the column if you are intending to hit the end with a hammer. If you leave the nut further down, you will bell out the end of the column. Yes, I've done that as well !!
Geoff Mears (1970 Midget)

Hi Dave, I don't fancy your idea of pouring a kettle of boiling water into my lap while sitting in the drivers seat!
m fairclough

Geoff, that's why I suggested using a drift. No damage to the threads that way. If you leave the nut at the end and hit it, damage to the threads will still happen, both on the nut and the shaft.
Cheers John
JOHN HALL & JULIE ROBERTS

I learnt the hard way about leaving a few threads on the nut a few years back when trying to remove the steering wheel on my vw bus :)

anyway, no real update, found a bit of welding to do instead, but will give all the ideas posted here a go until one works :)
phil near bristol

How about using a hair dryer or hot-air wallpaper stripper rather than hot water? Just watch where the 'overspray' goes, as you don't want to damage eg the dash.

Best of luck,
Jonathan

Jonathan Severn

gave up in the end. removed the bolt at the steering box end and that made no difference.

more annoyingly, the puller I used 'spread' the top of the column slightly so the nut doesn't fit back on.
hours of careful filing didn't help, so I bodged it with a cut down VW wheelnut. I'm still annoyed, but I have other jobs to do for the mot ...
phil near bristol

Had the same trouble last summer. ended up using a blow lamp on the boss, cooling the surrounding areas I didn't want to incinerate with a wet towel and then tapping it around the edge to loosen anything that might have seized. After that I put myself upside down in the drivers seat and worked around the edge of the back of the boss with a blunt bolster chisel and a lump hammer.

All to no avail I might add. Thoroughly annoyed I had one more go with the blow torch and gave it a tug, it flew off as if it had just been resting there! By fluke I was standing off to the side so managed to avoid DIY rhinoplasty!
James Ballard

This thread was discussed between 06/07/2009 and 13/07/2009

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS is active now.