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Caught me again......reading the manual after reassembling.....I definitely got it wrong.....but something doesn't seem right. My Jan 25, 1955 TM9-8014 Op and Org Maint. Manual for the m38a-1 and the m-170 in Section XXI - Steering System, Subsection 227 - Drag Link Assembly on pg. 269 Para. d. Installation subpara. (2) says "making certain that the ball enters between the ball seat (C) and the ball seat spring (D)". Can this be correct? The ball on the bell crank has the open end of a spring on one side? Was it corrected by some addenda? Even the picture makes it look like the cupped side of (C) is facing forward which wouldn't agree with the written instruction......but sure matches up better with the cupped end of the front end cap. According to the picture the only other mistake I made was the orientation of the spring and ball seat spring seat.

You're right... or at least I hope you're right, 'cause I've been doing it your way. Wouldn't want that nasty old spring scraping on the ball. It should be between the two cupped surfaces, like you say. I suppose even the Army manual is entitled to a little typo here and there.

The end of the drag link on the pitman arm has two ball seats. One goes on each side of the ball then the spring goes aft of them then the ball seat spring plug then the adjusting threaded plug.

They did a much better job of explaining what went where in the M38A1 early Ops & Maint. Manual TM 8-804A dated July 1952.