I finally got out to my Coupe today due to nice weather here in NJ.
I checked the position of my steering joints.
The top is set up for the bolt to lock on the shaft, in-between the two splined areas. On the bottom, the bolt only clamps the joint onto the spline. So I am good there. My issue right now is, I find that to be able to get the joint over the splined top end of the steering column far enough to have the bolt land in-between the two splined sections, I need to pull the bottom joint off the spline a bit! The steering wheel seems to be seated all the way down, so I don't know where I can find any "slack". I don't know if it is as it should be - though it don't look right. Please see the pictures of the top and bottom joints, as things stand now.
good --- http://www.honda600coupe.com/steering_j ... _joint.jpg
not so good --- http://www.honda600coupe.com/steering_j ... _joint.jpg
I wonder if before all this happened, the top joint was set with the bolt passing ABOVE the top splined section, and just holding on by clamping force, or maybe nothing.
Steve
> ----- Original Message -----
> From:
> lyletrudell
> To:
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Sent:
> Monday, December 27, 2010 12:11
> PM
> Subject:
> [2cylinderhondas] Re:
> [anzhonda600owners] one lockwasher away from disaster
> Bill and Steve, just looked at my steering U-joint shaft.
> The spline is
> the same on both ends, but the joints are "NOT" the same!
> The bolt only
> protrudes and locks on the (shorter) top U-joint, like Bill said. But,if the > U-joint shaft was flipped over, it would not lock on the steering > shaft!
> Steven might have his U-joint shaft mounted upside down!?
> Not
> sure if this is possible, because the bolt would hit the spline on the lower > joint.
> Also if the bolt threads were rusted, worn or damaged the
> steering shaft could come out. The lock washer is also very important, like > Steven said.
> Something to check on.
> Lyle
> --- In
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> ,
> wrote:
> > Steven;
> > You
> should check further, as the bolt used on your Joint Assembly seems to
> be wrong. It should be 8X20 mm with a Hex head. The unit is made to > hold > > as long as the bolt is threading into the threaded side of the > coupling.
> > The steering wheel shaft has an indentation for the bolt and > the teeth on > > the column shaft keep it from rotating. As long as the > diameter of the bolt > > is correct the steering wheel shaft should not > come off of the Joint > > Assembly unless the bolt is almost completely > removed from the coupling.
> > So, see if the joint assembly coupling is
> all the way on, the bolt used is
> > the correct 8mm bolt in place and
> tight.
> > I have had cars come in where the column was not on
> all the way and a
> > bolt/nut was used to clamp it onto the shaft which
> by passed the indentation
> > on the column.
> > See page
> 6-17 in the Coupe Parts manual.
> > Bill
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> ]On
> Behalf Of Steven Michelsen
> > Sent: Friday, December 24, 2010 12:33
> PM
> > To:
> anzhonda600owners@yahoogroups.com
> ;
> 2cylinderhondas@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [anzhonda600owners] one lockwasher away from disaster
> > Did you know that it is possible for your steering shaft to become > detached > > from the articulated part below it, all on it's own? When > this occurs one > > is left with a free spinning
> > steering
> wheel. See the picture that shows the crucial part...
> http://www.honda600coupe.com/photos/cru ... g_part.gif
> > I've had my Coupe for 8 years and never needed to detach the steering > shaft.
> > But, some DPO did, and decided against replacing the lock > washer. OMG BIG > > MISTAKE.
> > Mercifully, I discovered my
> little malfunction as I was preparing to drive
> > the car, not ACTUALLY
> driving it.
> > I hereby recommend that before you drive your 600
> Coupe or Sedan again, take
> > a peek under the dash and confirm that this
> bolt is tight, and the lock
> > washer is in place. The bolt doesn't have
> to be "loose", just not tight
> > enough.
> > Suddenly
> surprised to be alive,
> > Steve
> www.honda600coupe.com
