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What is the proper name for this part and what is the part number(or link) for a kit for it? I'm finding the entire assembly instead of just the kit in my searching.
The old one, the retaining spring/clip broke when I removed it from the steering motor, as in the one that holds the metal bars inside the coupler
I'm not sure there's anything corvette-only about the steering column other than maybe the steering wheel and the corvette horn button. GM use these steering columns in lots of mid-sized and full-sized vehicles (and pickups) throughout the 80's and in Corvettes from 80-82 like yours. I can't see if yours has the lever release to remove the key.
I'm not sure there's anything corvette-only about the steering column other than maybe the steering wheel and the corvette horn button. GM use these steering columns in lots of mid-sized and full-sized vehicles (and pickups) throughout the 80's and in Corvettes from 80-82 like yours. I can't see if yours has the lever release to remove the key.
It does have the lever to remove the key.
Reading the papers, it supposedly has more tilt positions and I've never seen the telescopic steering wheel on anything else. Also part of the blinker/wiper/dimmer lever. All of our old GM pickups only had a blinker and tilt on the column.
Tilt was a real popular option back then. Most GM cars had it, except for the real stripped down ones. Telescoping was an option you'd see it on Riverias, Cadillacs and Corvettes, but it was offered on Caprices too as I recall, and probably other cars. Does your column have telescoping? You didn't see 'tele-' very often on Caprices or lower model cars, bc a lot of cars back then were ordered by dealers in advance, (I've sat there and helped order cars when I worked for a dealer back then) ....and a dealer typically wouldn't 'gold-plate' a Caprice (B) or Mid-size (G-body) cars ..unless it was for the bosses wife. Dealer would usually select options that would sell the cars, not make them almost as expensive as a Caddy. A dealer would add higher-end features to a Cadillac or Riviera, like telescoping. What yours is missing is the cruise feature on the stalk ...not really needed on a tractor, lol. You can buy almost any part to repair these columns if needed.
The most common issue on these columns were they would get 'sloppy' side-to-side like if you grabbed the steering wheel and moved it side-to-side. Either: 1) The 4 bolts that hold the cast aluminum tilt base would come loose ..real common. Or 2) The two pivot pins on each side of the column (esp the Rt side pin) would slightly wear out the cast aluminum tilt assembly boss (oversized pins are avail). Always check the 4 bolts for tightness first. Because it's kind of weak like that I would NEVER grab the steering wheel and use it as a handle to help get in/out of the tractor. Use other handles or you'll wear it or break the pivot pin area. Another issue you'd see back then was the bottom bushing or bearing on the column could get sloppy ..but not as common as the tilt issue. And of course, the key cylinders would wear out all the time. The column shift collar (yours doesn't have the shifter) would get gritty and 'loose' after a lot of use and dust esp in pickups. And of course, thieves would knock a hole in the bottom of the lower collar and lift up on the starter switch rod to steal a car ...that was a common weakness on those column (google it).
The reason your has a Briggs key is it's probably the same as a GM key. Lot of equipment used GM keys and columns. Jeep in the 80's used GM columns. My Jeep plow truck has a GM steering column in it. My skid steer uses a GM key. Lot of tractors and machinery use the GM-style key back then. Someone probably found yours at a Hardware store one time b/c the GM keys were out of stock and the Briggs key was the same and what they had on the shelf that would work. Things like that happen.
IDT there's anything super-special about that column other than the Corvette steering wheel, and it makes an interesting story to tell your tractor buddies. You should get a center button to put on the steering column and make up (or buy) a graphic with your tractor logo. That would be trick!
That 2-pot joint is basically a sliding pivot joint. Almost like a CV joint but 2 slides (and smaller). I think there's some outfit re-making them (Dorman?). Or go to a salvage yard and find a low-mile farm truck and that probably has a good one. If your tractor has a rag joint (flexible coupler) on it, they often get 'sloppy' even though you can't visibly see it. That can contribute to a lot of steering sloppiness. If your tractor has one. Maybe it doesn't. Repair kits are available.
I've had a lot of these steering columns completely apart over the yrs, even back in the 80's. If you don't have a 'lock plate hold-down tool' you should get one to work on them (OReilly's). Makes a hard job real easy.
Tilt was a real popular option back then. Most GM cars had it, except for the real stripped down ones. Telescoping was an option you'd see it on Riverias, Cadillacs and Corvettes, but it was offered on Caprices too as I recall, and probably other cars. Does your column have telescoping? You didn't see 'tele-' very often on Caprices or lower model cars, bc a lot of cars back then were ordered by dealers in advance, (I've sat there and helped order cars when I worked for a dealer back then) ....and a dealer typically wouldn't 'gold-plate' a Caprice (B) or Mid-size (G-body) cars ..unless it was for the bosses wife. Dealer would usually select options that would sell the cars, not make them almost as expensive as a Caddy. A dealer would add higher-end features to a Cadillac or Riviera, like telescoping. What yours is missing is the cruise feature on the stalk ...not really needed on a tractor, lol. You can buy almost any part to repair these columns if needed.
The most common issue on these columns were they would get 'sloppy' side-to-side like if you grabbed the steering wheel and moved it side-to-side. Either: 1) The 4 bolts that hold the cast aluminum tilt base would come loose ..real common. Or 2) The two pivot pins on each side of the column (esp the Rt side pin) would slightly wear out the cast aluminum tilt assembly boss (oversized pins are avail). Always check the 4 bolts for tightness first. Because it's kind of weak like that I would NEVER grab the steering wheel and use it as a handle to help get in/out of the tractor. Use other handles or you'll wear it or break the pivot pin area. Another issue you'd see back then was the bottom bushing or bearing on the column could get sloppy ..but not as common as the tilt issue. And of course, the key cylinders would wear out all the time. The column shift collar (yours doesn't have the shifter) would get gritty and 'loose' after a lot of use and dust esp in pickups. And of course, thieves would knock a hole in the bottom of the lower collar and lift up on the starter switch rod to steal a car ...that was a common weakness on those column (google it).
The reason your has a Briggs key is it's probably the same as a GM key. Lot of equipment used GM keys and columns. Jeep in the 80's used GM columns. My Jeep plow truck has a GM steering column in it. My skid steer uses a GM key. Lot of tractors and machinery use the GM-style key back then. Someone probably found yours at a Hardware store one time b/c the GM keys were out of stock and the Briggs key was the same and what they had on the shelf that would work. Things like that happen.
IDT there's anything super-special about that column other than the Corvette steering wheel, and it makes an interesting story to tell your tractor buddies. You should get a center button to put on the steering column and make up (or buy) a graphic with your tractor logo. That would be trick!
That 2-pot joint is basically a sliding pivot joint. Almost like a CV joint but 2 slides (and smaller). I think there's some outfit re-making them (Dorman?). Or go to a salvage yard and find a low-mile farm truck and that probably has a good one. If your tractor has a rag joint (flexible coupler) on it, they often get 'sloppy' even though you can't visibly see it. That can contribute to a lot of steering sloppiness. If your tractor has one. Maybe it doesn't. Repair kits are available.
I've had a lot of these steering columns completely apart over the yrs, even back in the 80's. If you don't have a 'lock plate hold-down tool' you should get one to work on them (OReilly's). Makes a hard job real easy.
Yes mine has telescoping. It surprisingly has little slop in it, the bolts were tight and the pivot pins didn't show much noticeable wear.
Looking at the Briggs key assembly now and then looking at our 80s Ford pickup, I'm thinking that's probably where it came from or was meant for, styling wise. Either way now it's getting replaced as, from what I can tell, someone didn't have the key in all the way at one time or tried the wrong key and forced it, so the keys that came with it were jammed in there. Even after taking it apart, I don't know if they are the correct keys or if they are so screwed up that the key cylinder is basically shot.
with this setup, you can't really hang onto the wheel to get in, as to reach in from outside you'd about have to fall onto the seat. The cab is roughly 6' wide for reference. (Pictured is the "little" one at 400 horsepower with a Detroit Diesel 8v92 Turbo that's locked up).
As for the "theives stealing cars" way, that's how we start a few vehicles as the rod or something internally has broke. It's been put off as most people we've talked to said you do not want to rebuild one, but after rebuilding this one, it isn't terrible bad...which means now I've got about 4 more to rebuild.
As for the sticker for the center, it did actually come that way.
Then about your jeep, does it have a coupler like the one I have a few posts above? If so what model of Jeep do you have, apparently that coupler is not GM but it links the steering column to the steering motor.
Another Question, This Time About The Key Cylinders
So I managed to find two close to new old stock key cylinders, but what does the difference in the numbers mean? Is one older or an improvement over the other or are they meant for different applications? I mean from what I can tell, they will both work just fine for my application, I'm just curious on why they are slightly different and what the 4 digit numbers mean. This one just has a drop off/raise for accessory.
the one above came in a new looking box. This one has a small roll key/pin before accessory. 9217, and came in an older looking box.
Both boxes, in case someone is wondering.
For what it's worth, they were $20 cheaper than what Napa/Carquest/Hedahls/AutoValue/Advance/O'ReillO'Reilly's wanted for a new one.
By coupler ...do you mean the splined sliding metal coupler? No, the XJ Jeep (Cherokee's), have a proper intermediate steering shaft complete with u-joints (small ones). I can't say about other Jeeps, older ones from the early 80's. Maybe some Jeeps used that coupler as I see Crown sells one (Crown makes a lot of Jeep parts). You can probably get another one of those spring clips at any salvage yard or make one from heavy wire. Here's a replacement:
What is the proper name for this part and what is the part number(or link) for a kit for it? I'm finding the entire assembly instead of just the kit in my searching.
The old one, the retaining spring/clip broke when I removed it from the steering motor, as in the one that holds the metal bars inside the coupler
Originally Posted by Mark G
By coupler ...do you mean the splined sliding metal coupler? No, the XJ Jeep (Cherokee's), have a proper intermediate steering shaft complete with u-joints (small ones). I can't say about other Jeeps, older ones from the early 80's. Maybe some Jeeps used that coupler as I see Crown sells one (Crown makes a lot of Jeep parts). You can probably get another one of those spring clips at any salvage yard or make one from heavy wire. Here's a replacement:
I've been a heavy equipment mechanic for 40 years. I've encountered those columns , made by Saginaw, in several different brands of equipment, cranes, tractors, Terra Gators and others I can't remember right now. Your column looks to be similar to 78 and later C3. You may be able to find parts, possibly NOS from some of the manufacturers, Agco Terra Gator, Linkbelt Crane. Stiger tractor. By far, the best tech resource is the Jim Shea papers referenced above.
@Mark G has helped me quite a bit on my T&T steering column issues also, so he's kinda like EF Hutton, when he talks, people listen
also, Jim Shea x1000000! He eats, sleeps and breathes these columns
