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[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367327 is a reply to message #367326] Wed, 27 October 2021 10:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
If people want better presentation, I know some of us will not do it as we
would be open to criticism .
Should be glad he takes time to do those things.
Jim B like rest of us do not work 8-5 5days a week and were not getting
rich either.

On Wed, Oct 27, 2021 at 7:57 AM James Hupy wrote:

> I have some experience in doing tech video presentations for rallies. All I
> can say is "It ain't as easy as it looks" I have shot, then reshot, and
> sometimes reshot again to get a sequence that comes out the way it needs to
> be.
> I spent many years in a shop setting as a Vocational instructor trying
> to make technical points about certain processes that I found easier to do
> myself, rather than trying to explain it to the un-informed.
> But, watching someone else do something technical is NOT THE SAME as
> actually doing it with your own two hands.
> Doing it in front of a video camera and facing concerns of proper
> camera angles, focus, lighting, AND keeping the nomenclature specific and
> exact is no easy task. Oh, yes I forgot about sound quality when you turn
> away from the camera, too. Easier to wear a microphone that you have to
> manage cords to. I have thousands of dollars worth of cameras, lighting,
> monitors, patch cords, software mixing and editing programs just to do
> this.
> "It ain't as easy as it looks, folks". Cut Jim Bounds a little slack,
> please.
> Jim Hupy
> Salem, Oregon
>
> On Wed, Oct 27, 2021, 7:03 AM Jim Kanomata wrote:
>
>> GMC Motorhome business is so small there is no one that can finance a
>> professional aids.
>> If you feel you can pull it off , then I suggest you do it.
>> In our case, if it was not for our Air Filter parent company, we could
> not
>> tie up funds on lot of the projects we need to invest.
>>
>> On Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 10:56 PM wrote:
>>
>>> I watched them too, a lot of rambling and more of a commercial for
> those
>>> new intermediate shafts than any real info. Plus he needs a cameraman
> so
>> he
>>> can zoom in on the things he refers to. No doubt there is some value in
>>> his presentations but as a relative newcomer to these TZE's, I find the
>>> presentations hard going. He needs a script/producer/cameraman IMO
>>>
>>> Larry
>>>
>>> RF_Burns wrote on Tue, 26 October 2021 18:13
>>>> I watched JimB's steering videos both parts 1 and 2 this past week.
> In
>>> part 1 he was calling the output shaft the input shaft and he corrected
>>>> himself a couple of times. He talked about making the pitman arm
>>> parallel with the cover mounting surface when I believe he was wanting
> to
>>>> reference the flat spot on the input shaft.
>>>>
>>>> In part 2 he came back and tried to clarify the position of the input
>>> shaft with the cover mounting surface. Except this time he stated it
> was
>>>> the intermediate shaft's pinch bolt groove that you line up to the
>> cover
>>> mounting surface. This is not correct, it is the flat milled surface
> on
>>>> the input shaft that is to be parallel to the cover mounting surface
> as
>>> shown on page 9-39 of the manual. It would be really nice if the
> pinch
>>>> bolt was the reference point, then you could see at a glance, but the
>>> pinch bolt is at some random angle that does not match to anything when
>> on
>>>> high-point.
>>>>
>>>> I hope he clarifies this before people get this messed up... Or if I
> am
>>> wrong, please advise me and I'll delete this post.
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Larry - Victoria BC -
>>>
>>> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
>>> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust
>> system,
>>> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange
>> hoses
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jim Kanomata ASE
>> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
>> jimk@appliedairfilters.com
>> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
>> 1-800-752-7502
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>


--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: Steering box centering [message #367328 is a reply to message #367287] Wed, 27 October 2021 11:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Van Vlack is currently offline  Bill Van Vlack   United States
Messages: 419
Registered: September 2015
Location: Guemes Island, Washington
Karma: 14
Senior Member
This topic has taken an interesting turn... If you want to see what's possible with vehicle-related video, check out Project Binky (Bad Obsession Motorsport) and Soup Classic Motoring; the first for the protagonists' skills, personalities and humor and the second for an interesting approach to video production. As Jim H points out, if it were easy everyone would do it. The best channels have Patreon subscribers at 2, 5, and 10 per video at the minimum. 1000 Patreon supporters at 5 bucks for a video each week is $20K per month. That makes it possible as a full time job - provided you have the personality and content dialed in. If Hal St Clair were so inclined, that project would be a winner.


I think weekly videos by a skilled and knowledgeable individual (not a company - whose motives would naturally differ) that took viewers through a single restoration would be compelling if done well. But the product is knowledge and entertainment, not service or parts sales.




Bill Van Vlack '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid November 2015.
[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367329 is a reply to message #367287] Wed, 27 October 2021 12:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
tmaki is currently offline  tmaki   United States
Messages: 200
Registered: September 2005
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Do I hear an "Amen!" ?
 
Having been "in the business" for nearly 50 years, all I can say (without writing a book) is anybody who hasn't done it has no idea what it takes to do it. Even the Duane Simmons Onan video I did at the Mariposa rally some years ago was a bear to do as it was a spur of the moment, hit and miss, hope-you-get-something-because-there-is-not-another-chance type of thing. And Duane had the vocabulary and presentation skills that made it relatively do-able. Don't ask about post-production. It's a miracle anything came of it at all.
 
 
Toby Maki
73 Glacier 230
Riverside, CA
-----Original Message-----
From:
Sent: Oct 27, 2021 7:57 AM
To:
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering
 
I have some experience in doing tech video presentations for rallies. All I
can say is "It ain't as easy as it looks" I have shot, then reshot, and
sometimes reshot again to get a sequence that comes out the way it needs to
be.
I spent many years in a shop setting as a Vocational instructor trying
to make technical points about certain processes that I found easier to do
myself, rather than trying to explain it to the un-informed.
But, watching someone else do something technical is NOT THE SAME as
actually doing it with your own two hands.
Doing it in front of a video camera and facing concerns of proper
camera angles, focus, lighting, AND keeping the nomenclature specific and
exact is no easy task. Oh, yes I forgot about sound quality when you turn
away from the camera, too. Easier to wear a microphone that you have to
manage cords to. I have thousands of dollars worth of cameras, lighting,
monitors, patch cords, software mixing and editing programs just to do this.
"It ain't as easy as it looks, folks". Cut Jim Bounds a little slack,
please.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Oregon
 
On Wed, Oct 27, 2021, 7:03 AM Jim Kanomata wrote:
 
> GMC Motorhome business is so small there is no one that can finance a
> professional aids.
> If you feel you can pull it off , then I suggest you do it.
> In our case, if it was not for our Air Filter parent company, we could not
> tie up funds on lot of the projects we need to invest.
>
> On Tue, Oct 26, 2021 at 10:56 PM wrote:
>
>> I watched them too, a lot of rambling and more of a commercial for those
>> new intermediate shafts than any real info. Plus he needs a cameraman so
> he
>> can zoom in on the things he refers to. No doubt there is some value in
>> his presentations but as a relative newcomer to these TZE's, I find the
>> presentations hard going. He needs a script/producer/cameraman IMO
>>
>> Larry
>>
>> RF_Burns wrote on Tue, 26 October 2021 18:13
>>> I watched JimB's steering videos both parts 1 and 2 this past week. In
>> part 1 he was calling the output shaft the input shaft and he corrected
>>> himself a couple of times. He talked about making the pitman arm
>> parallel with the cover mounting surface when I believe he was wanting to
>>> reference the flat spot on the input shaft.
>>>
>>> In part 2 he came back and tried to clarify the position of the input
>> shaft with the cover mounting surface. Except this time he stated it was
>>> the intermediate shaft's pinch bolt groove that you line up to the
> cover
>> mounting surface. This is not correct, it is the flat milled surface on
>>> the input shaft that is to be parallel to the cover mounting surface as
>> shown on page 9-39 of the manual. It would be really nice if the pinch
>>> bolt was the reference point, then you could see at a glance, but the
>> pinch bolt is at some random angle that does not match to anything when
> on
>>> high-point.
>>>
>>> I hope he clarifies this before people get this messed up... Or if I am
>> wrong, please advise me and I'll delete this post.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Larry - Victoria BC -
>>
>> 1977 Palm Beach 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the
>> word NOT. New Atwood fridge, water heater & furnace. New SS exhaust
> system,
>> 6000w Onan, Iota Converter, R134A A/C, New fuel lines & heat exchange
> hoses
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>
>
>
> --
> Jim Kanomata ASE
> Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
> jimk@appliedairfilters.com
> http://www.gmcrvparts.com
> 1-800-752-7502
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
 

 
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Re: Steering box centering [message #367348 is a reply to message #367287] Thu, 28 October 2021 06:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
RF_Burns is currently offline  RF_Burns   Canada
Messages: 2277
Registered: June 2008
Location: S. Ontario, Canada
Karma: 3
Senior Member
I understand it takes some good time and effort to make presentations and videos. I was in business for 40 years and many times had to make presentations for Government bodies and corporate meetings.

If you are marketing yourself as an expert and a teacher, making a presentation to those who look up to you for your knowledge, shouldn't you clearly present correct information? Otherwise, what's the point of going to the effort in the first place?

Those who are trying to learn will take this information as gospel and end up with a coach that is a handful to steer.

If you know the correct information, is it Ok to just take it as just entertainment and say "good effort". Then just leave it out there.

Just my 2 cents.


Bruce Hislop
ON Canada
77PB, 455 Dick P. rebuilt, DynamicEFI EBL EFI & ESC.
1 ton front end
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=29001
My Staff says I never listen to them, or something like that

[Updated on: Thu, 28 October 2021 06:26]

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Re: Steering box centering [message #367350 is a reply to message #367321] Thu, 28 October 2021 08:10 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Richard RV   United States
Messages: 631
Registered: July 2012
Location: Full-timer for 12 years, ...
Karma: -17
Senior Member
I assisted Alex Ferrara at GMCMIs while he did his thing and am familiar with the centering procedure. Watching that video I found it more confusing than clarifying.

This is not attacking JimB, nor a comment on the presentation/video quality. Posting confusing information should be avoided.

Richard


'77 Birchaven TZE...777; '76 Palm Beach under construction; ‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
Re: Steering box centering [message #367353 is a reply to message #367350] Thu, 28 October 2021 11:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Van Vlack is currently offline  Bill Van Vlack   United States
Messages: 419
Registered: September 2015
Location: Guemes Island, Washington
Karma: 14
Senior Member
Richard RV wrote on Thu, 28 October 2021 08:10
I assisted Alex Ferrara at GMCMIs while he did his thing and am familiar with the centering procedure. Watching that video I found it more confusing than clarifying.

This is not attacking JimB, nor a comment on the presentation/video quality. Posting confusing information should be avoided.

Richard
Hopefully these videos will demonstrate that the subject is complex enough to dissuade the average owner from attempting to correct their steering issues and rather to find a qualified professional. Maybe that was the purpose, but how many of the viewers can find one within the distance they're willing to drive a coach - especially one with wonky steering?

Imagine how much time and effort it would take to make an instructional video that would truly allow and encourage a brave GMC owner to diagnose and even fix their own steering issues. But there's a real need for that, since the average front-end mechanic has proven that they can cause more problems than they solve when they attack the GMCMH.


Bill Van Vlack '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid November 2015.
[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367356 is a reply to message #367353] Thu, 28 October 2021 12:42 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
If you want better presentation, don't bother looking at these and see if
you'll find better re. our coaches else where.
Think you all should appreciate what they are trying to do and accept it
for what it is.

On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 9:21 AM Bill Van Vlack
wrote:

> Richard RV wrote on Thu, 28 October 2021 08:10
>> I assisted Alex Ferrara at GMCMIs while he did his thing and am familiar
> with the centering procedure. Watching that video I found it more
>> confusing than clarifying.
>>
>> This is not attacking JimB, nor a comment on the presentation/video
> quality. Posting confusing information should be avoided.
>>
>> Richard
>
> Hopefully these videos will demonstrate that the subject is complex enough
> to dissuade the average owner from attempting to correct their steering
> issues and rather to find a qualified professional. Maybe that was the
> purpose, but how many of the viewers can find one within the distance
> they're
> willing to drive a coach - especially one with wonky steering?
>
> Imagine how much time and effort it would take to make an instructional
> video that would truly allow and encourage a brave GMC owner to diagnose and
> even fix their own steering issues. But there's a real need for that,
> since the average front-end mechanic has proven that they can cause more
> problems than they solve when they attack the GMCMH.
> --
> Bill Van Vlack
> '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath,
> Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o
> mid
> November 2015.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>


--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: Steering box centering [message #367357 is a reply to message #367287] Thu, 28 October 2021 13:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
boybach is currently offline  boybach   
Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island
Karma: 4
Senior Member
I just watched Jim Bounds's latest presentation on carbs and distributors and I learned a lot.

So all good

Larry


Larry - Victoria BC - 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
Re: Steering box centering [message #367360 is a reply to message #367287] Thu, 28 October 2021 15:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Greg C. is currently offline  Greg C.   United States
Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN
Karma: 0
Senior Member
So I'm fighting a back injury right now, and I'm not able to do much. But today I went out to the coach and checked the amount of turns lock to lock. It looks like about 3-1/4 turns. So, from Jim Hupy, this is not a factory steering box.

Am I screwed here? Does this box have the infamous "high spot" that corresponds with the input shaft flat aligned with the cover axis?

Or are all bets off?

It does require more hand movement than I would like to keep it straight going down the road. I have not yet removed the intermediate shaft to confirm the position of the input shaft flat, but since the steering wheel is out, I'm pretty sure that everything needs adjustment.


Greg Crawford KM4ZCR Knoxville, TN "Ruby Sue" 1977 Royale Rear Bath 403 Engine American Eagle Wheels Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags
[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367362 is a reply to message #367360] Thu, 28 October 2021 16:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Greg,

Here's the best information you're likely to find about the GMC steering
box:
https://www.gmcmi.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/GMCMH-Steering-Box.pdf

From that, the GMC steering box is internally the same as the Saginaw box
used in most GM vehicles of the same generation EXCEPT that it has internal
stops to limit the travel of the pitman arm. Those stops are very
important because without them, the entire steering system can be severely
stressed. If you turn the steering wheel to its extreme travel then look
behind the wheel away from the turn direction, you'll find the ultimate
cause of that stress: The knuckle has on it a "stop" (a molded protruding
knob) which will be near or against a welded stop on the lower A-arm. With
the correct stops inside the steering box, those two should never touch.
Without those stops, that's the "steering lock". With the hydraulic force
available, there can be a LOT of force exerted on all of the steering
linkage. Probably the most severe is right there on the lower ball joint.
Measure the distance from the pivot of the ball joint to the end of the arm
on the knuckle. Now compare that to the distance from the stops to the
pivot of the ball joint. As a WAG, I'd say it's about 3 times as far from
the end of the arm (lever) as from the stop (fulcrum), so that the force on
the steering linkage (100+lbf?) becomes 300+lbf? on the ball joint. Not
good! You want those stops in the steering box!

HTH,

Ken H.

On Thu, Oct 28, 2021 at 4:48 PM Greg Crawford
wrote:

> So I'm fighting a back injury right now, and I'm not able to do much. But
> today I went out to the coach and checked the amount of turns lock to lock.
> It looks like about 3-1/4 turns. So, from Jim Hupy, this is not a factory
> steering box.
>
> Am I screwed here? Does this box have the infamous "high spot" that
> corresponds with the input shaft flat aligned with the cover axis?
>
> Or are all bets off?
>
> It does require more hand movement than I would like to keep it straight
> going down the road. I have not yet removed the intermediate shaft to
> confirm
> the position of the input shaft flat, but since the steering wheel is out,
> I'm pretty sure that everything needs adjustment.
> --
> Greg Crawford
> KM4ZCR
> Knoxville, TN
>
> "Ruby Sue"
> 1977 Royale
> Rear Bath
> 403 Engine
> American Eagle Wheels
> Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>
_______________________________________________
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Unsubscribe or Change List Options:



Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: Steering box centering [message #367363 is a reply to message #367360] Thu, 28 October 2021 16:30 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Van Vlack is currently offline  Bill Van Vlack   United States
Messages: 419
Registered: September 2015
Location: Guemes Island, Washington
Karma: 14
Senior Member
The GMC steering box has internal stops that prevent the knuckles from hitting the lower control arm. You should check that your box does that; if it doesn't it's best to change it. I believe most boxes have the center high spot - or whatever it's called. I don't know whether the stops can be installed later and you'd have to know where they are placed.

Bill Van Vlack '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid November 2015.
Re: Steering box centering [message #367364 is a reply to message #367360] Thu, 28 October 2021 16:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
boybach is currently offline  boybach   
Messages: 566
Registered: December 2020
Location: Vancouver Island
Karma: 4
Senior Member
Greg C. wrote on Thu, 28 October 2021 13:48
So I'm fighting a back injury right now, and I'm not able to do much. But today I went out to the coach and checked the amount of turns lock to lock. It looks like about 3-1/4 turns. So, from Jim Hupy, this is not a factory steering box.

Am I screwed here? Does this box have the infamous "high spot" that corresponds with the input shaft flat aligned with the cover axis?

Or are all bets off?

It does require more hand movement than I would like to keep it straight going down the road. I have not yet removed the intermediate shaft to confirm the position of the input shaft flat, but since the steering wheel is out, I'm pretty sure that everything needs adjustment.
Before you start ripping everything apart, you can try one simple adjustment. No guarantees that it will make your steering problems go away, but in my case, it did help - however, Murphy's Law - I didn't try it or find out about it until AFTER I pulled everything apart and attempted to put everything right.

This is a tip from the GMCINFO site.

With the wheels set straight ahead, loosen and back off the locknut that holds the allen screw in place - this locknut is located on the side of the steering box. Back it off a couple of turns then back off the allen screw a few turns too.
Next, start tightening up the locknut. As you tighten it, it'll pull the allen screw along with it until the allen screw stops turning. Continue to tighten the lock nut until it's tight again. Take her for a spin and see if the handling is any better.

This procedure really improved the handling on my coach. A friend later thought my steering wasn't "tight" enough and tightened up the allen screw - I let him do it because he was an experienced mechanic. It did tighten up the steering, but the coach became impossible to steer over 20mph and even that required a lot of concentration - basically the coach was unusable. I re-adjusted the allen screw the way I just described and I've been driving the coach all summer like that. It still ain't rack and pinion precise by any means, but at least I can handle it without sweating bullets.

HTH

Larry


Larry - Victoria BC - 1977 ex-Palm Beach "Ol' Leaky" 40,000 miles, PO said everything working but forgot the word NOT. Atwood helium fridge, water heater & furnace. SS exhaust system, Onan, Iota Converter, R134A, New fuel lines & heat exchange hoses
[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367373 is a reply to message #367356] Thu, 28 October 2021 20:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bdub is currently offline  bdub   United States
Messages: 1578
Registered: February 2004
Location: Central Texas
Karma: 5
Senior Member

Jim, if the information is in error, it should not be presented. Period.
It needs to be redone. It is not correct.

The quality of the presentation continues to get better. Much better than
we had 10 years ago. Things are progressing, but to allow bad information to
propagate should not be tolerated!

Lots of bad info in this thread. I only wish it could be removed rather
than archived.

bdub


-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Kanomata [mailto:jimkanomata@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, October 28, 2021 12:43 PM
To: gmclist@list.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering

If you want better presentation, don't bother looking at these and see if
you'll find better re. our coaches else where.
Think you all should appreciate what they are trying to do and accept it
for what it is.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:



bdub
'76 Palm Beach/Central Texas
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com
www.gmcmhregistry.com
www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes
www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm
Re: Steering box centering [message #367374 is a reply to message #367287] Thu, 28 October 2021 20:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Greg C. is currently offline  Greg C.   United States
Messages: 224
Registered: October 2019
Location: Knoxville, TN
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Ken : Thanks for that article. If that is the definitive guide for steering boxes, then I do have the right box! It is about 3-1/3 turns lock to lock. I will confirm that the knuckles do not contact the control arms. I feel much better about this, for now, anyway!

Greg Crawford KM4ZCR Knoxville, TN "Ruby Sue" 1977 Royale Rear Bath 403 Engine American Eagle Wheels Early Version Alex Sirum Quad bags
Re: Steering box centering [message #367385 is a reply to message #367287] Fri, 29 October 2021 11:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bill Van Vlack is currently offline  Bill Van Vlack   United States
Messages: 419
Registered: September 2015
Location: Guemes Island, Washington
Karma: 14
Senior Member
Here's a pretty good write-up of what the two steering box adjustments do....

http://www.tpub.com/basae/220.htm

Until I read that, I didn't understand that the steering box gear is designed with more lash when turning right or left vs straight ahead. Too tight, and the lash is taken out when steering right or left, making it harder to steer; too loose and the coach wanders when steering straight ahead.

When I thought a little more about it I realized that the lash when steering right or left is not an issue (if you have enough caster once you stop moving the steering wheel) since you are pushing against one side of the gear while steering towards or holding the curve of the road. If the steering is not centered, when you steer straight ahead you are really in the part of the gearing that has more lash - until you steer towards the center of the box when you reach the part that has less lash.

OK you experts! Did I get that right - or even close!?


Bill Van Vlack '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath, Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o mid November 2015.

[Updated on: Fri, 29 October 2021 11:35]

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[GMCnet] Re: Steering box centering [message #367392 is a reply to message #367385] Fri, 29 October 2021 16:08 Go to previous message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Not an Expert, but you are correct.


On Fri, Oct 29, 2021 at 9:36 AM Bill Van Vlack
wrote:

> Here's a pretty good write-up of what the two steering box adjustments
> do....
>
> http://
>
> Until I read that, I didn't realize that the steering box gear is designed
> with more lash when turning right or left vs straight ahead. Too tight, and
> the lash is taken out when steering right or left, making it harder to
> steer; too loose and the coach wanders when steering straight ahead.
>
> When I thought a little more about it I realized that the lash when
> steering right or left is not an issue (if you have enough caster once you
> stop
> moving the steering wheel) since you are pushing against one side of the
> gear while steering towards or holding the curve of the road. If the
> steering
> is not centered, when you steer straight ahead you are really in the part
> of the gearing that has more lash - until you steer towards the center of
> the box when you reach the part that has less lash.
>
> OK you experts! Did I get that right - or even close!?
> --
> Bill Van Vlack
> '76 Royale; Guemes Island, Washington; Twin bed, full (DS) side bath,
> Brazilian Redwood counter and settee tops,455, 6KW generator; new owner a/o
> mid
> November 2015.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
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--
Jim Kanomata ASE
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.gmcrvparts.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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