The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Steering Column Mast Spring on Top?

My 59 1/2 ton had a steering wheel just sitting on the mast when I got it. I have a spring (about one and half inch long) that fits over the center cloumn that I think goes under the steering wheel and on top of the steering column mast, although I don't see what it does unless it is to hold the bearing in? Is there any sort of spring on the Horn button side of the steering wheel? Seems to me that the new horn button and contact assembly should get some "spring" in the assembly.

My new wheel has the new horn contact button installed as well as the horn contact plate that the new horn button clips onto, but the whole thing does not really have any "spring" to it. Am I missing a part here. The vendor catalogs do not show anything beyond these parts.

The spring goes under the steering wheel, between the whell and the mast jacket bearing. it doesn't have anything to do with the horn, as the horn contact itself is spring loaded. Here's a page from the '55 manual showing where the spring should sit.
Actually, it's funy this came up, got me thinking, so i pulled the wheel off mine just to look. Sure enough, I forgot to put that spring back in! Now I just need to remember hware i put it!

Thanks Bill. Yep, sure makes sense now, but I still do not see how this new horn push and contact plate are "spring loaded" as the reference in the manual says. I guess the thin cheap metal contact plate is supposed to flex against the center nut and cause the contact to be made. I know it is not working, so I must have somethin wrong. The horn works fine when I touch it off with a jumper between the center and contact. I will keep fooling around with it and figure out what the hangup is. Glad I reminded you to find that spring!

Ras - the horn plate with the serrated edge does flex marginally when the button is pushed, just enough to make the 'brush' contact short things to make the connection, and that's the only "springiness" ... only very slight movement is needed

Bill

Rasman, does your spring look like this? http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0900.jpg
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk203/Longbox55/100_0899.jpg
Did some digging, I think I found the right one

not long enuff for 57-59, might work for the 55-6 different column tho'

Bill

Nope, won't work, just tried it
Back to the drawing board! Actually, I think I can find a suitable replacememnt at the local TSC.

if I remember right it's 3 or 4 complete wraps and even diameter all the way with both ends being "doubled" to close a complete circle on the end, and about 1.5-2" long UNcompressed

Bill

Bill is right on with his description of the upper mast spring. It hs more wraps and no taper and is doubled at both ends. Okay I figured out that the contact plate I have is defective as the bottom tang is bent badly causing the plate to sit tight instead of allowing a little movement. More China stuff I bet. The old one in the parts box was ugly and filthy, but of course after some tweakin, it works! Thanks Ralph

Bill, for reference the spring looks a lot like a much bigger version of a brake shoe hold down spring. Ralph

The spring holds the inner race, the cone shaped thingy, down into the upper steering shaft bearing. Too little tension might let the cone creep up which would let the shaft and steering wheel wiggle and too much might over pre-load the bearing. Probably best to use one with near the right length and tension.

Rasman,
Im assuming you have an aftermarket wheel like a grant or something ...there should be the horn plate and you slide that spring under the horn cap and push down and the cap will snap onto the horn plate and the spring raises the horn cap & plate so there is no contact to ground...then TOOT away!
Tim