When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I recently replaced my ignition cylinder lock on a 69 Corvette with telescopic, I placed the shaft in its shortest position and locked it in place and put the C-clip in, the problem I have now is that the shaft is not extended enough to even start the thread on the nut to put the steering wheel hub in. What am I missing here?
Yep , shaft isn't locked at all , pull it out and put an allen key type bolt in there (hub will go over those ). Make sure you haven't lost the steel rod as well .
The shaft has to be locked in the shortest position so that it can be locked in place with a set screw (telescopic shaft) so that the locking plate tool can be used to depress the plate down and install the C-clip. Now the shaft does not go up or down, it is locked in place (set screw has been removed) and yes there is the spring behind the hub. If I remove the C-clip to extend the shaft then I won't be able to depress the locking plate because the telescopic shaft would go up and down.
With no tension on the rod, it should slide up and down freely. That notched woodruff key that the rod pushes against to lock up the telescoping shaft must be jambed. Or incorrectly installed. I would pull the C clip again, remove the telescoping shaft and double check that notched woodruff key. Could it be incorrectly installed?
With a set screw in the shaft locked, the shaft won’t be able to telescope. Let it out a little and thread a set screw in instead of the star bolt and lock it down, then you will be set.
It also doesn’t look like you are trying to put the hub on in the right orientation to the shaft in the first picture.
If it won’t move, depress lock plate again, remove the c clip, and move the shaft out a bit and then lock it down with the set screw and replace the lock plate and c clip.
Last edited by 69ttop502; Dec 30, 2023 at 06:44 PM.
Thank you for all the suggestions I'll do them and see what happens, quickly when removing the hub steering wheel puller is used, pushing the hub back in do I need a special tool or do I just use the nut to torque it down?
I don't need a puller to get mine off the splines. Or any difficulty putting it back on. I repaired a column for a fellow forum member, same thing. No puller necessary.
And pulling it on with the nut should work fine. It's on a spline, not a tapper.
steering wheel hub
