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Removing switchgear on steering column
james h - 18/4/11 at 02:36 PM

Hi all,

I'm thinking of removing the upper cast part of the column where all the switches and ignition barrel attach - mainly because I want to put a paddleshift on the column.

Is there any way of taking all of the cast bits off without damaging them? Or is it a case of cutting it off?

From this:

Grafting loom to stering colum
Grafting loom to stering colum

(big-vee-twin's pic)

To this:


(Davegtst's pic)

I think I read somewhere there is a grub screw holding the cast part on but I can't seem to find it! Saying that I'll go back into the garage and see it straight away

Thanks

James


mikemph - 18/4/11 at 02:50 PM

I would also like to know the same thing... I will have a closer look tonight and see if I can figure it out.


mikemph - 18/4/11 at 02:50 PM

I would also like to know the same thing... I will have a closer look tonight and see if I can figure it out.


phelpsa - 18/4/11 at 02:52 PM

Me too! Was having a look at the weekend and couldnt see anything obvious.


Doctor Derek Doctors - 18/4/11 at 03:01 PM

quote:
Originally posted by phelpsa
Me too! Was having a look at the weekend and couldnt see anything obvious.


It must come off because the scrappy who sold me my column specifically removed the switches to sell seperately to kit car types.


phelpsa - 18/4/11 at 03:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Doctor Derek Doctors
quote:
Originally posted by phelpsa
Me too! Was having a look at the weekend and couldnt see anything obvious.


It must come off because the scrappy who sold me my column specifically removed the switches to sell seperately to kit car types.


You can remove the switches without removing the aluminium casting.


nick205 - 18/4/11 at 04:17 PM

Looks like a delicate job for mr angle grinder + slitting disc to me


james h - 18/4/11 at 06:45 PM

I managed to get it off using the trusty lump hammer

There should have been a grub screw underneath on the casting, but there wasn't on mine.

I put the column outer (minus the steering shaft) vertically in a vice with the edge of the casting resting on the jaws, the rest of it hanging down loosely. Knocked a piece of dowel onto the welded on adjustable bit with a lump hammer and after a couple of minutes the casting started to separate, and came off pretty quickly. Pics to follow!

Hope that helps

James


phelpsa - 18/4/11 at 07:19 PM

I might just have ago with the dremel in that case


james h - 18/4/11 at 07:37 PM

Outer column
Outer column


Column casting
Column casting

The bit on the top is where the grub screw goes.
(If this looks different to others its because part of the casting had broken ages ago, its the upper bit for the indicators).

Under column slot
Under column slot


adithorp - 18/4/11 at 07:46 PM

Some castings have the grub screw in but most reley on it gripping in the tappered slot in that picture. Take out the screw (if there) and then knock off. Takes a bit of force at first but comes loose once it moves.

I then machined an ally cylinder to push on and held with a couple of small grub screws and machined to take the top bearing. I then mounted my padle shift to that with rose joints.


omega 24 v6 - 18/4/11 at 08:17 PM

Never done it myself but based on what's been posted I would soak a towel and stick it in the freezer for an hour ( until its mushy like a slush puppy) and wrap it round the steel of the column. Then with a blow torch heat the alloy casing
( alloy will soak up the heat and expand quicker/more than the steel making it easier to slide/knock off)


bigrich - 18/4/11 at 09:05 PM

just knock the top bit off, cut the lugs off with a hacksaw and machine it up in a lathe.

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