Locking the steering wheel

[Keith Micklewright]

Not sure if this question should go in this forum. But, I bought one of John Learmonths ZTB Alignment tools(really nice by the way) and I am not sure where to get a tool to lock the steering wheel. Does anyone know where I can get one or is there some easy trick to doing it? Thanks for any help.

[Todd Bolton]

If your steering shaft is 5/8" there are several companies that make just what you are looking for, Phantom and Buller are just a couple.... At this time I don't know any company that makes one for a 3/4" shaft......TS Racing had on in last years catalog but now they don't offer it...
A toe-lock for 3/4" shaft would be nice(hint hint Manfacturers)

Another way you can do it is put a bunge cord on both steering wheel spokes and stretch it around the back of the seat.... That seems to work for me...

[Tim Paul]

Keith,

I drive a CTS and they use an aluminum steering block. So, I tapped it and use a 10/32 T-handle screw to lock it into place. It really works good. When I got my steering wheel perfectly straight I marked the steering shaft with a scratch to get it perfect every time. I probably wouldnt do this to a plastick steering block though.

Todd,

I tried to find the "toe lock" you mentioned and couldnt. What exactly is it. And how does it work? I got the "hint" so lets see if it is worth making?

Tim Paul
Pro Race Designs
Proracedisigns@aol.com

[Todd Bolton]

Tim

Most Oval guys use this to lock the steering straight ahead to set Toe and Caster/Camber.... As I said before Phantom and Buller both make them and I saw one in Comets Catalog as well.... Not sure how to describe it but here it goes...

First it is a Steering Block as you mentioned, toward the bottom of the block there are 3-5 smaller holes that are Dead Straight, 10 Degrees and 20 Degrees. Now you have another aluminum piece that clamps on the steering shaft like a lock collor only elongated with a hole that you can fit a small pin thru and into one of the block holes to lock the steering......

Pin in steering is locked straight ahead or 10* or 20*.... Pin out normal steering operation...

If you email me I can send a picture of one to you....

[ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Todd Bolton ]

[ January 08, 2002: Message edited by: Todd Bolton ]

[Dave Embry]

quote:

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Originally posted by Keith Micklewright:
Not sure if this question should go in this forum. But, I bought one of John Learmonths ZTB Alignment tools(really nice by the way) and I am not sure where to get a tool to lock the steering wheel. Does anyone know where I can get one or is there some easy trick to doing it? Thanks for any help.

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If the steering block is plastic, you can use a pair of vice-grips. Just lock it onto the block at the bottom or top and squeeze it tight. The plastic bends and clamps the shaft holding it tight. I've been doing it this way and it works fine and doesn't really hurt the plastic block or shaft.

I love the ZTB!

[John Learmonth]

quote:

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Originally posted by Keith Micklewright:
Not sure if this question should go in this forum. But, I bought one of John Learmonths ZTB Alignment tools(really nice by the way) and I am not sure where to get a tool to lock the steering wheel. Does anyone know where I can get one or is there some easy trick to doing it? Thanks for any help.

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Hi Keith,
You don’t need any special tools for locking the column, its possible to modify the upper steering column mount to act as a steering lock:

1) Remove the upper mount from the kart and column
2) Place the mount in a vice, holding it in the vice so that the mounting bolt hole (bore) is uppermost and facing sideways (ie with the steering column hole / bore below the bolt hole / bore in such a way that if the column were fitted in the mount then the column would be projecting toward and away from you)
3) Cut (with hack saw) through the nylon body of the column mount so that you cut the bore of the mounting bolt in half. Cut all the way through so that the cut extends into the steering column bore
4) Cut again so that the cut is now a slot about 1/8” wide
5) Refit mount to column and kart

You’ve now turned the column mount into a pinch clamp, and to clamp the steering column you just ‘over-tighten’ the mounting bolt (which should take about 5 seconds), tightening the mount around the column. When you no longer want the column locked in position, simply loosen the mounting bolt / nut until the column turns freely (this is important, don’t forget to do it!!). Make sure the ‘Nyloc’ nut is in good condition to avoid the possibility of the bolt coming loose.

If you want to have the mounting bolt completely tight (not really necessary), you can make a metal spacer (the same thickness as the slot you cut from the mount) with its own slot arrangement so it can be inserted into the ‘slot’ in the mount. This will allow you to fully tighten the mounting / clamp bolt without locking the column. When you want to lock the column, just loosen the bolt, pull out the spacer, and ‘over-tighten’ the bolt.

Theoretically this operation will slightly weaken the column mount, but the nylon of the mount body is very strong and would still require enormous force to break. This is just what I do with my karts, any modification is undertaken at your own risk!

Thanks for the ZTB plug (cheque’s in the mail!)…….might make a good posting to the ‘best tools’ thread?! (bigger cheque??!!).

[John Learmonth]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Embry:


I love the ZTB!

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Hi Dave,
I suppose you'll be wanting a cheque too? I can't afford all this good publicity!

[Dave Embry]

quote:

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Originally posted by John Learmonth:
[QB]

Hi Keith,
You don’t need any special tools for locking the column, its possible to modify the upper steering column mount to act as a steering lock:

QB]

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John...what a mind you have! You ALWAYS come up with some simple ideas that work. Guess it's like most of us just can't see the forest for the trees huh!

I've already done this mod to our karts! Great idea.

(I guess you've got my address to send the check to eh?)

[Graeme]

Its no big job!

Just get a cheap vise grips, maybe theres one in your toolbox already.

Center the steering wheel and lock it into place near the bottom of the column so the floor prevents it going one way and its own weight prevents it moving the other.
No biggy, takes 10 seconds.

Its a little easier to position if you lock it to a tie-rod but you may damage them slightly if not done correctly.

[Jerry Clayton]

I just center the steering square off the rear axle and with steering wheel adjusted to straight ahead drill thru the block and one side of the tube with 3/16 drill. Deburr the holes and get a close tolerance 3/16 bolt, cut the threads off and use as a dowell any time you want to check the toe.
Also use this when weighing the kart so the castor in the front end doesn't effect your side to side weight.
Jerry

[John Learmonth]

quote:

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Originally posted by Dave Embry:


John...what a mind you have! You ALWAYS come up with some simple ideas that work. Guess it's like most of us just can't see the forest for the trees huh!

I've already done this mod to our karts! Great idea.

(I guess you've got my address to send the check to eh?)

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Dave, it is an elegantly simple solution, but it’s not entirely mine. My first kart had a steering column with a welded on steering wheel mount / flange, so the only way to fit the upper mount to the column was to cut the mount as I described. This is how it was when I got the kart.

The ‘standard’ set up was to have a couple of washers in the gap to allow the mounting bolt to be tightened without jamming the column, but I WILL take credit for realising that the washers could be removed and the gap widened to allow the column to be locked when desired.

[Keith Micklewright]

Thanks guys, for the helpful hints!