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Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: oldguy on June 10, 2021, 10:19:18 pm

Title: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 10, 2021, 10:19:18 pm
I need to adjust my steering box as it is hitting the stop steering right. I went
under the coach today and the screw at the bottom of the steering box is screwed
out to the stop. It was out so hard that I couldn't turn the screw until I gave it a few
taps with a hammer and punch. Is the bottom screw to adjust the stop for the right turn.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: Barry & Cindy on June 11, 2021, 11:38:18 am
Be careful about turning the adjusting screws OUT too much as after the last turn, we hear the adjuster will fly out and it is hard to replace.

Also the bottom adjuster has been known to freeze in place over time and not rotate anymore.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 11, 2021, 11:45:30 am
OUT= more cut angle. IN= less cut angle.

If already hitting the mechanical stop (and the stop is in the right position to protect tire from contacting suspension or body components) then you need to turn the screw IN.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 11, 2021, 11:54:48 am
I got the bottom adjuster broken loose. The question I have is which stop is the bottom
adjuster. Right or left stop.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 11, 2021, 05:41:29 pm
I tried to adjust it. Turning right it hits the stop and turning left it's about 3/8th of and inch
away from the stop. Turning the adjustments do nothing. I'm afraid that the pitman arm is
out a tooth. Any ideas.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: jor on June 11, 2021, 07:52:57 pm
Had you recently replaced your steering gear? Has something changed? On mine I believe it was hitting on one side for some time. I could see the contact point.  I never crank it over against the stops but it had obviously touched in the past. Below is my post from when I adjusted mine. I had to turn the adjusters all the way in top and bottom to get it right. I suppose if you had less wheel cut you'd have a little more adjustment room.
jor

Quote
OK. I got it done. I got into this after reading a couple of threads on the proper adjustment of the steering stops. I had recently had my steering gear replaced so I crawled under and took a look. The right side steering stop had definitely been making contact while the left had not. Then I read about the relief plunger adjustment. Not knowing if mine had been adjusted I decided to do that as well. Got some good tips from Roger and Brett and proceeded as follows:

1.  Drove the rig up on 2X10s giving me an extra 3" of height.
2. Put a bottle jack center on the straight axle and took some weight off of the tires.
3. Had my helper turn the wheel all the way left and right and I adjusted the stops so they were just touching.
4. Adjusted the relief plunger screws to provide for between 1/8" and 1/4" clearance at the steering stop.

Note:
* In order to get the necessary clearance, I had to adjust the relief plungers in all the way which was 4 turns on the screwdriver. (backed off 1/4 turn) This position is called "minimum wheel cut." Sheppard ships these units in this position.
* The bottom adjuster does the right side.

I'm thinkin' if you've replaced your steering gear, probably a good idea to check out the steering stop situation.
jor


Steering Stops and Wheel Cut (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=41896.msg418726#msg418726)
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 11, 2021, 08:19:05 pm
If it is out a tooth I would think it would have been installed improperly. I don't
know. The only reason I checked it is because on this forum it was advised to check it.
The coach has always steered great. It has tight steering.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 11, 2021, 08:27:48 pm
There are two treads currently running in the "Tech Talk" section on steering box adjustment.

The other one Steering Wheel Position (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42510.0) just had the steering box rebuilt and the steering wheel is off 90 degrees.

This may be totally unrelated to your issue.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 11, 2021, 08:42:17 pm
Brett I have been reading those threads and seeing that others have had things
installed incorrectly so this coach my have had the steering box done before I
got it. As the coach runs fine I will drive it the way it is until I have built a pitman
puller. It just doesn't turn as sharp to the left as the right. 
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: wolfe10 on June 11, 2021, 08:48:06 pm
If you can't get proper lock to lock with the plungers, and it is well off to one side, you may be able to use the drag link to change the center point.

Won't say this is the "kosher" thing to do, but it may work and is certainly easier than pulling the pitman arm in most installations.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: oldguy on June 11, 2021, 11:34:17 pm
Thanks I will look at that.
Title: Re: Adjusting steering box.
Post by: Pamela & Mike on June 12, 2021, 07:52:57 am
Quote from: oldguy –
It just doesn't turn as sharp to the left as the right. 

If the steering box has ben worked on they may have installed the wrong length adjusting screw for this application.

Mike
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