M38A1 Steering

Bob_C · Post by **Bob_C** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:04 pm

My bell crank feels to me fairly loose, and I can't figure out for a hoot why. I have replaced the bearings, bolt (twice), and I have even machined my own bushing that is deadnuts on, and it's still got a fair amount of play in it.

Nothing else is sloppy. My jeep was finished its restoration a year ago this time of year. Got a NOS gear box last year when I finished the jeep, tie rods are good, knuckle bearings are good. There is no shimmy, even at high speeds. But the looseness of the bell crank forces you to keep your eyes on the road, as there is a good deal of rotation of the steering wheel that doesn't do anything.

Anyone know what could be going on here? Oh, that bolt and nut at the top of the bracket that is mounted to the frame is super tight.

OKCM38CDN · Post by **OKCM38CDN** » Wed May 30, 2007 5:41 pm

Your gear box may need adjustment after wearing in...

Just a thought...

You gonna make the Little Rock Convention?

Bob_C · Post by **Bob_C** » Wed May 30, 2007 7:03 pm

Hi Hal, long time no talk!

Thanks for the idear, but its not in the gearbox. Gearbox is fine, works like a charm. The bell crank ( # 7375183 - letter E page 220 in TM9-8015-2) is the only thing moving on a diagonal.

I wont be in Little Rock. Its a far drive from Pennsyltucky, and I don't have a CH-47 or anything to be able to airlift my jeep down there

Also, I've been accepted to Virginia Tech, and I'm actually going to head there early before the official first semester to take some engineering summer classes. It just so happens that this program starts a few days before Little Rock. Kinda stinks that I'll miss a summer to be super lazy, but our HS has a co-op program for kids that have a 70% or above, and allows them to leave school to go do an internship / coop a month early. So I guess you can say I've had summer vacation for a while. Trying to clean up the small issues with the jeep before I leave. I'm sure my dad is going to want to play while I'm away.

mike470 · Post by **mike470** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:04 pm

Just a thought, I understand there were two different sized bellcrank pins used could yours be missmatched?

usma41 · Post by **usma41** » Mon Jun 11, 2007 2:25 am

Check your drag link adjustments front and rear of the drag link.

Bob_C · Post by **Bob_C** » Tue Jun 12, 2007 6:40 pm

Drag link is Okay. I rebuilt that, no problems...It wouldn't cause the lateral movement of the bellcrank.

Do you happen to know the diameters of the different pins? That could quite possibly be it. However, I would think that the bushing would be sloppy as heck. Unless perhaps it was a different diameter at the bottom part of the shank (nut side) -- That would explain why the clamping bolt isn't doing jack.