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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Steering column pinch bolt

I can’t get the pinch bolt out. It turns but won’t come out even with a hammer and punch and hefty blows.

The goal is to get the rack out to clean and service it. With the pinch bolt undone the rack will slide so far out but then won’t slide out any further so I guess the pinch bolt needs to come out completely for removal of the rack?

Any suggestions on how to remove the bolt without damaging the rack and pinion?
C MADGE

Chris,
there's a flat to the steering rod so you have to get that lined up or the bolt will bind. You may have turned the rod or moved it up or down a little that's preventing clearance.

If you don't follow the John Twist method or use a puller to get the steering wheel off you can also collapse a collapsible column, as I did with my first outrageously overpriced old car that are called classics.

Use a new bolt and nut as some find they can work loose, others like myself don't generally find this though.




Nigel Atkins

Chris,

The rack has a splined shaft - part way up the shaft the shaft is 'wasted' such that the bolt stops the column lifting off without removing the bolt.

The steering shaft end has is a 'pinch bolt' i.e the end is split where the bolt passes through and clamps onto the shaft. I would first try opening the split slightly with a screwdriver etc to effectively line up the drilled bolt hole to allow the bolt to come out.

See pic of rack spline.

Oh if you do have problems i seem to have aquired about 3 spare racks (as you do !).

R.



richard b

Thanks for the replies, the pics were useful
I tried a different set of swear words and tapped it out with a punch eventually
C MADGE

Chris
When you put it back together, make sure the flat on the shaft lines up with the bolt hole perfectly, There is only one spline that does this correctly and if you don't get it lined up the bolt won't fit properly and if it's bashed or wound in it will do damage and be hard to remove
If you are getting a new bolt it 'has to' be as in Nigel's pic. with the long plain shank
If an incorrect bolt with thread all the way up is used the threads can walk up the splines on the shaft and the steering shaft will come off the rack (no steering)

willy
William Revit

Thanks Willy. The bolt that came out was threaded all the way up and the threads were very chewed up so the flat wasnt aligned I guess. A new bolt is on order.

There isnt much on this car that hasnt been bodged. I spent last night welding and repairing the triangular pieces in the engine bay that had been badly repaired in the past :(
C MADGE

Chris, you seem to be in the garage 24/7!!
Bill Bretherton

Not quite Bill,I still have to work for a living :)
But it’s half term and the wife and dustbin lids are away for a few days so i’m making the most of it.

Here’s a pic of my reconditioned gear box for no particular reason, other than I have cleaned up and painted the mounts and attached them back to the gearbox.


C MADGE

Looks great----for no particular reason--lol
willy
William Revit

This thread was discussed between 16/02/2019 and 22/02/2019

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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