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MG MGB Technical - Steering wheel boss

I have just bought a boss and motolita leather steering wheel. Fitted it to my 75 BGT and the boss doesn't seem to push on as far as the previous one. Consequently the horn doesn't activate unless I thump it hard(ish). I've cleaned the spines and they aren't damaged, the thread on the end looks as if it has been cross-threaded at the tip at some point. There seems to be a little play if I rock the steering wheel, but not excessively (and I can't remember if it was more than before!).

Has anyone had any experience like this, what did you do/how did you work round it???
David Cross

Oh heck David that's not too clever. Take the wheel off and gently thread the nut on to the shaft. If it is reluctant you will have to dress the thread clearing it very gently with a die nut is you can get the correct thread or maybe with a junior hacksaw blade !! You can also thread the nut on the other way round so that you get undamaged thread on the shaft. You must be gentle with this or you will do irrepairable damage. Remember to use grease on thread and only use socket alone NO ratchet bar. Refit the wheel and tighten down. There should be no rock in it but my two cars are very different in how much it goes on to the splines.

Re the horn, I don't think it should be on the steering wheel but on the indicator stalk. I can't remember the change over point but am sure it wasn't as late as 75.

Cheers

Iain
Iain MacKintosh

My car seems to be a bit of a half way house, either it's had alot of people not knowing what to do with it and so have fitted various different age fittings or it's one of the last released C/B 74's! (Need to check the vehicle number!)

The cross thread is on the end of the steering column, when I've been tightening the nut on it I only use the socket (not the trusty torque wrench!!) in the hope that I don't continue the trend! Yeah, I don't particularyl want to change the steering column (YET!)!!

The only other thing that I can think is that the plastic cowl has been pushed down the column in the change, was resting on the old boss and putting the new one on has released it???
David Cross

Position of the plastic cowl is determined by the ignition switch as it clamps on to this which in turn is located in a hole in the oputer column to line the lock up so I dont think the cowl has moved unless of course its broken. If lock does not work then chect to find out if hole in outer column exactly lines up with slot in inner. If not just slacken the two clamps and rotate/slide outer so that it lines up and lock will operate. This determines spacing between boss and cowl.

Reoair of thread is time consuming. You are going to have to fiddle with it. Make sure the nut goes on square. Rotate it anti clock firstly so that you can feel the end of the thread and start from there.

Now that you've said it, it does sound that a lot of people have been fiddling over the years.

Cheers

iain
Iain MacKintosh

"I'm getting deja vu all over again"

There should be no movement between wheel and shaft when the nut is tight. As far as the horn goes just check that the back of the hub contacts the horn spring *before* it is fully seated on the shaft and pushes it back a little way, if it does not just pull it forward a bit.
Paul Hunt

Sorry to suggest the obvious, but is it possible that you have not installed the horn slip ring on the back of the steering wheel boss?
Greg Bowman

Mine didnt have a horn slip ring...any idea where I can get one?
william fox

If it ain't got one then either it isn't supposed to have one and you have bought the wrong wheel or take it back and get a proper one.
Paul Hunt

This thread was discussed between 17/12/2003 and 19/12/2003

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