Hi List,
I'm back for about half an hour to give an update on the steering boss
problem I had a while back.
It started when I bought a secondhand Moto-Lita steering wheel for my 69
Sprite. No big deal I though as all Moto-Lita bosses while being all shapes
and sixes for all cars fit one wheel fitment even though the wheels come in
varying sizes.
YES and NO.
Yes correct any wheel fit fit any boss whether the boss fits your car or not
is a different thing.
No because about 30 years ago they did an alternative series of small boss
wheels.
I contacted Moto-Lita who explained all this and said I wouldn't want to know
what the price of a one off boss would be since it was more than the price a
brand new big boss wheel and boss. When pushed they remembered they still
had special bosses made the Triumph Herald (!) that was very similiar to the
Spridget and cowling issues aside would fit.
At great expense I bought the Triumph Herald boss and yes it did look about
the right spacing etc. But the Spline was too small.
I didn't want to find out if the early Spridget column was a different
diameter spline, I guess it is, because the column on my car has been
shortened and I figured it would be easier to sort the boss than another
column, etc.
Cutting an internal spline is a specialist engineering job but hey, this is
England, the West Midlands even, these cars are practically local. Cutting
an internal spline is called broaching and requires a special tool called a
broaching tool (I never knew this and just thought they used some special
grinding operation).
A broaching tool is like a thread tap but with the cutting teeth at 90
degrees to how they look on a thread tap and about 20 times longer. The
broach is tapered and the cutting teeth which are in bands about an inch from
the previous band work up from next to nothing to full size. Each broach
just like a tap is a specific size and if you can find the right size you are
in business if not forget it or spend several thousands of pounds.
The engineering shop I went to do a lot of bosses for other engineering
companies I hadn't heard of but I guess were sub contracted by someone else -
see how parts get expensive. One pile of bosses were for the MGA wire spoke
steering wheel - I saw a steering wheel part assembled. Other bosses were
for other MG stuff and of the many broaches they had the right size.
I didn't get to see the broaching being done but the tool is drawn through
the work piece on some kind of hydraulic arrangement.
Finally, on my boss I had to have the back machined back to take account of
my shortened steering wheel etc. The guy and his buddy with the blessing of
the foreman did the job in their own time for what amounted to beer money
(Engineering shop beer is seemingly more expensive than car breaker yard beer
- go figure?).
I should have the new wheel on the car for the weekend. Why did I bother?
Because I now have a period modification aftermarket wheel on my car rather
than a modern reproduction, it looks nicer and I am stubborn.
Another finally, I would like to stay on the list a while but am stacked out
with work, kids, wife, gardening, etc. Will get round to those individual
replies that are months old in due course
Regards
Daniel1312
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