I had my '69 standard column out to replace the lower bearing. When I went to re-install it, the lower shaft wasn't long enough to reach the rag joint. Alan send some pictures (of course ) and, sure enough, mine was suddenly too short. If I pull the clip at the top (that holds the turn signal switch and everything) the shaft will slide down far enough to engage the rag joint coupling. But then the top is too short. It's like the whole shaft compressed. I tried pushing, pulling, tapping, etc. but it doesn't lengthen. So I decided it was "caught" somewhere and started to pull it apart. I have everything I can see apart (turn signal switch, ignition switch, etc.) but the top collar doesn't want to do more than pull away. I can see what looks like gears down in there.
So I have two questions:

1. Do I need to pull it apart to get the shaft back to the right length?
2. If so, how? I looked at Jim Shea's stuff, but couldn't find what I was looking for. The only thing I can find refers to removing four screws - which I think I already did. I don't see a single screw or clip. what am I missing?

Of course, if there's some trick or obvious thing I'm missing to get the shaft long enough to reach both the top and the bottom, that would be most appreciated, as well.
Thanks again,
Eric

 

Is yours a tilt/tele column? I rebuild mine and stripped right down as housing needed to be welded. Gears you see are probably lower bearing? Is the column picture same as yours? Sounds like bearing or something is in wrong position? Any pictures? I know when I put mine back together I had to change a few times as I did not have right

 

Here are some pictures. In the first one, you can see that I have everything off that I can see. The second one shows how far the upper collar comes off. So, two questions:
1. Does this need to come off to de-compress my steering shaft?
2. If so, what am I missing?

 

Did you have the column apart when you changed the lower bearing? Doesn't look like it from pictures. If not sounds like the shaft slid down or the lower bearing is not in the right positition. Was bearing seized on lower shaft? I had to emery cloth my shaft and figure out where to position. I think I remember reading shaft has a marking on it and only goes one way. Attached blowup of your column I beleive. Jim Shea is the expert on this so perhaps reach out to him at Wilcox

 

I didn't pull the steering shaft out when I did the lower bearing, though it did slide back in there quite a bit, so that I had to pull it back out. As far as the lower bearing, I cleaned up the lower shaft and the bearing slides pretty freely on it. I replaced everything (retainers and clip per Jim Shea's instructions). I'm 99.5% positive it's not binding at the lower bearing. The reason is that I can pull it down to engage the rag joint. But if I do that, the part at the top where the clip goes is way down inside the collar.
I've looked at the drawings, but it's hard to tell which part can get caught on other parts. I was hoping this was a common issue and there was some trick to it I was just missing. Thanks for the help.

 

Here's the statement in Jim Shea's paper that leads me to believe my column is just compressed:

"Steering Shaft Length
It is a good idea to check the length of the steering shaft #38-47. There are two
dimensions that can be checked; one is the overall length, the other is the amount that
extends out from the lower bearing retainer #34-59. It is possible that the shaft could be
compressed during handling or when the steering column was removed from the car."

Mine is shorter that the specified length. But no amount of tugging or pushing will lengthen or release it. It can't be this hard, so I've got to just be missing something.

 

Is there two shafts and one slides in the other? That is the only way it could compress. If so take the two shafts out and adjust or see if they are binding? Don't think I can help more as mine is different. feel for you as I though rebuilding my shaft (tilt/tele) was a lot of trial and error. I did take the whole column out of the car which make it easier to work on and see what is going on.

 

Yep, I agree. That's why my original question was 2 parts. If I can fix it without disassembly, yippee! But if I need to take it apart, how? I've had the column out of the car a few times and don't mind pulling it again if I need to. But right now, I'm at a loss. I was hoping to get some interest since I'm sure I'm just doing something dumb. I think if somebody who had experience looked at this, it would take all of 30 seconds to point out my error. But I really appreciate you taking the time to help.