Prone to wander

My only experience with a steering box is with a '32. On that box and many others, they're designed to be tightest at dead straight ahead and then loosen up when turning left or right. I took the draglink off and centered the box by turning the steering wheel to full lock at the left and put a piece of tape at the top of the wheel. Then, I counted turns to go full lock to the right and put another piece of tape at the top of the wheel. I then turned the wheel exactly half the number of turns to find dead center of the box and put a third piece of tape. At this point, I adjusted the box. With the box at dead center, I reinstalled and adjusted the draglink to set the wheels straight ahead.
 
Ggmac said:
If you raised the rear of the truck , by any means ( new higher arched springs , taller tires etc) or lowered your front end , you will have changed your caster . For the worse .
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Not true.
Caster is measured from the center plane of the spindle pin. So, even if the angle between the center pin and the ground change, it remains irrelevant to the caster.
 
Mike, my learned friend. I hate to call you on this, but your "not true" statement is not true.

The caster is measured from the pin relative to the ground.

So, if you raise the rear of the vehicle (think of "hiked" vehicles from years ago) you reduce the caster. Anything wildly raked will have reduced caster unless accounted for and adjustments made.

Don't want to start a keyboard war or pissing contest, so, this is a gentlemanly note, to help those that do not understand the mechanics involved picking up inaccurate advise.

Mart.
 
Kube said:
Not true.
Caster is measured from the center plane of the spindle pin. So, even if the angle between the center pin and the ground change, it remains irrelevant to the caster.
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Sorry to disagree. Take a good 3 d look at a do lid axle with caster and toe in , now rotate it 90 deg ( just to show my point ) now what happened to your caster ? Now rotate it only 45 deg ? See , the caster changes your toe . Agree not much but with only 1/8 in , any stacked play ( slop ) can put you at zero toe , now add on a caster problem and your wandering down thr road following every crown , divot etc .
 
Mart said:
Mike, my learned friend. I hate to call you on this, but your "not true" statement is not true.

The caster is measured from the pin relative to the ground.

So, if you raise the rear of the vehicle (think of "hiked" vehicles from years ago) you reduce the caster. Anything wildly raked will have reduced caster unless accounted for and adjustments made.

Don't want to start a keyboard war or pissing contest, so, this is a gentlemanly note, to help those that do not understand the mechanics involved picking up inaccurate advise.

Mart.
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I searched my books and yes, I was incorrect. I appreciate being schooled. Feel a little less ignorant now than when I posted that.

Thanks Mart.
 
Ggmac said:
Sorry to disagree. Take a good 3 d look at a do lid axle with caster and toe in , now rotate it 90 deg ( just to show my point ) now what happened to your caster ? Now rotate it only 45 deg ? See , the caster changes your toe . Agree not much but with only 1/8 in , any stacked play ( slop ) can put you at zero toe , now add on a caster problem and your wandering down thr road following every crown , divot etc .
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Yep, I was wrong. I learned sumpin' today. Thanks.
 
Kube and Mart have both shown that they are gentlemen today. As for me, it's more varnishing while the woodie is somewhat apart. Meanwhile air continues to bubble out between the stem and rim. No sign of a nail or any object upon very close inspection, but it is now registering 20 psi. Maybe I should have bought those nice thick expensive tubes at the tractor place. Hoping to adjust toe-in a bit and then the steering box while varnish sets up. OR.... should I try it with just the tire fixed, and go from there to better identify the culprit one item at a time? Oh, and Mart, that's soapy water not my spit. :)
 

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To the op , does the wandering get worse going down a steep hill and get better or nonexistent going up a steep hill?
This is one I have a hard time wrapping my brain around , but have been proven it's true !
 
GB SISSON said:
Thanks Les. It's such good varnishing weather today I have been routing doors for glass channel so I can seal up the raw wood and third coat the doors this afternoon. I'm going to bust out the tire irons and my patch kit later today, fix the tire and check all the other items mentioned. With those stiff 6 ply 'regrooveable' snow tires I might just run that one into the gas station in town. Oh, never mind that's a 24 mile round trip and then they'll say I need a new tube. The one in there is six months old and has about 300 miles on it. Besides, I like a challenge.
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MAN. It has been years since I have heard of or thought about "re-grooving" treads on tires. I was maybe 7 or 8 when I saw that being done ( 80 years ago). I was fascinated. Most have probably never even heard of that process. (Damn I'm old LOL)
 
Now back to the steering type of wandering. My steering wheel now has 1 1/2" freeplay instead of 4". Toe-in is now 3/16", but I still haven't fixed tire, and I can't drive down my dirt road with sticky varnish.
 
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GB Is the title "Come thou fount" (Of every blessing)


How did we get sidetracked here? Can anyone help us out here? LOL It's driving me nuts. LOL
 
I just googled 'prone to wander'. Yes Lawson, the title is correct. Written in 1757 by 22 year old Robert Robinson.
 
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Mart said:
Blimey, things are wandering ain't they?
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I edited out the religion and personal stuff. I am prone to blabbing sometimes. Sorry for the rant. I have the tube out and should be able to test drive in a few days. This has been a very informative thread and I thank you all for your input. I will post results when I get it back on the road. GB
 
Mart said:
I was only pulling your leg. ;)
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My best buddy does this thing when I'm telling a story and get off track and start to ramble. He kinda rolls his eyes and says "Com'on Gary, bring it around". I stand to be corrected now and then. Funny, I have the tube inflated and with dish soap on it and checking carefully in the old clawfoot tub, I can't for the life of me get a bubble. It was extremely clear it was coming from the hole in the rim around the base of the valve stem, not the valve. Heading to a jobsite now so I'll get on it tonight.
 
G.B. Could it have been air trapped between the tire and tube making its way out around the stem?
 
^^ That should only happen during initial inflation. Once all the air is expelled from between the tube and the tyre it should stop. I found the difficult thing is to get the tube underwater as it naturally wants to float. I sometimes find it helps to pass the tube very close to my face. The skin around the nose and mouth is very sensitive and can detect any slight air flow. Can you rule out that it was the valve leaking? I had one that wasn't tightened properly and leaked, and still leaked when tight. The core I replaced it with also leaked so I used a brand new one and it has been ok since.

The other leak path can be between the brass insert the valve core screws into, and the rubber part of the valve stem. I had some brand new old stock stems that couldn't be trusted because the rubber to brass bond had failed.

Both of the above leaks should show when immersed under water. it's also worth pulling the valve stem about to see if a leak shows when pulled to one side.

I also changed 4 6 ply 6.50s over on the floor with levers, and went out and ordered some longer levers. Haven't tried those yet to see if they are any better. By change over I mean 8 off and 4 on.

Mart.
 
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