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I rebuilt the tilt column in my 72. Every thing went together very easily.
I came across one problem after I had it all together. I am having trouble with this gear. I can't seem to get it to go all the way into the slot. It worked when the column was apart but when I put the rest of the column together it decided it didn't want to work anymore. The ignition lock won't rotate to the lock position. The picture shows that is as far as it will go. And yes I used Jim Sheas papers to assemble it but it dosen't cover something like this.
Does it rotate without the lock cylinder? I've done a bunch of them, but it was well over 30 years ago.. And way before Mr. Shea's papers. I recall having to reset that gear multiple times to get it all to play nice. Is the ignition switch installed? That could be the stop. I see you figured out the hairpin spring. I wonder if there is any difference between the sector gears between a tilt and non tilt?
Does it rotate without the lock cylinder? I've done a bunch of them, but it was well over 30 years ago.. And way before Mr. Shea's papers. I recall having to reset that gear multiple times to get it all to play nice. Is the ignition switch installed? That could be the stop. I see you figured out the hairpin spring. I wonder if there is any difference between the sector gears between a tilt and non tilt?
It worked fine with the lock installed and without it. I tried everything thru each step of putting the column together. Everything worked when I finished putting it together and then I couldn't get the lock to lock. It's all apart again and will try again.
I agree the gear must have to be played with to get it right.
For some reason the rack isn't pushing the rod far enough to allow the large part of the gear to go into the space.
Last edited by 540 vette; Mar 29, 2017 at 03:14 PM.
IF the rod that goes down to the ignition switch is not moving far enough it's either hitting something on the rack or the actual switch has a problem. The round end of the rack fits between the 2 nubs on the top of the actuator rod.
I figured it out. The bottom of the column where the lower housing assembly goes somehow got turned a little and the rod was not allowed to go far enough. All is working now.
Tilt column problem after rebuild.
