RUMCars Forum

General Category => Unusual Microcar Discussion => Topic started by: Bob Purton on February 21, 2012, 10:59:43 PM

Title: Nobel steering
Post by: Bob Purton on February 21, 2012, 10:59:43 PM
Steven, I took the bushes out, set them up in a four jaw lathe chuck so that the holes were running centrally and bored out the holes by about four mill. I then silver soldered bronze inserts into the enlarged hole and then gradually opened up the hole in the inserts with an expanding reamer until the pinion ends were a really snug fit. I had to do this because the original holes were worn and the pinion was very loose in the holes. Basically this is what clock makers do when shaft pivot holes have worn oval. I'm an antique instrument restorer and apply my restoration techniques on cars and bike, its the same principal but on a larger scale. The bore of my R&pinion is pretty good but as you say there is no reason why the ends could not be opened out, bushed and re-cut although I think the proper way would be to bore and sleeve the whole length of the casing. As I said, mine doesnt need it.
Re shock absorbers, I have had some replacements made, they are good quality but expensive. I can sell you a pair if you are interested.
You shouldn't need anything to stabilize the end of your rack, I have never had or heard of anyone with a problem in that area. Send me a pic so I will understand better what you mean.     
Title: Re: Nobel steering
Post by: steven mandell on February 21, 2012, 11:45:50 PM
Bob- I agree that this is a more appropriate forum for our discussion.  Just didn't know how to approach making the break, and have seen so many ridiculous strings of freely associated ramblings on other less practical subjects, that I wasn't sure it was needed.  If I were to say nothing further, someone would probably prove me right by adding their opinion on this.
But back to our main topic of interest- Nobel steering. My what a prodigy craftsmen you turn out to be.  I am envious as I never got to the lathe level of restorations, and have always thought that iIwould become a good lathesman if given the chance.  But if i am conceiving of your previous statements correctly- by doing a properly centralized rebore of the steering bushes, are you not disabling your own potential for adjusting the lash clearance between your rack and pinion gears?
Observe your rack whilst turning your steering wheel to full lock while the car remains stationary.  Mine did a lot of counter twisting, which could be perceived as play at the wheel under unusually heavy steering load conditions.  My picture to you has either already arrive,d or is temporally caught up in cyber space for an unknown interim , as i sent it to you neatly a couple of hours ago.
Speaking of steering play- what the heck was there supposed to be locating the steering column in the hole in the sheet metal dashboard?  One of mine came with a worn out split nylon top hat style bushing secured by a pop rivet.  The other had merely the wisp of a rubber seal dangling from the hole in the dash.  I've improvised a rubber bushing that works fairly well- but will appreciate knowing what the stock set up was. 
I will definitely take you up on your offer to send me shocks if they are not too expensive.  Now about that door aperture weatherstrippin.  Haven't got a trace of one on either car, and could use rear window seals to boot as mine have shrunk considerably, and the rear windscreen is either too small, the aperture too big or both.  I don't want it falling in or worse fallingout some day.   
Title: Re: Nobel steering
Post by: Bob Purton on February 22, 2012, 10:18:30 AM
Steven, your email has not arrived. Did you send it to gyrostarter?  You miss understand about the turning. A four jaw chuck is for setting up something of an eccentric shape or turning something off centre. Unlike a standard self centering three jaw each of the four jaws is adjusted seperatly so in this case the od of the bushes were not set up to be central but the holes were. I should have taken a photo before I assembled it. Where the column attaches to the dashboard, mine had a white nylon bush. I made a new one in black. I wouldl not be too helpfull to you with some of your other quetions as my car is not as other Nobels. I will send you a PM to explain as it is top secret!! It may be the worse kept secret in the microcar world but top secret never the less! ;D