Stuck Spark/Gas Levers

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aaronbokelmann

Junior Member
We have a 30 Fordor. The spark lever and gas levers barely move at all and are super tight when trying to move them. They were this way when we bought the car. We have oiled them and tried to get them to move a bit, but don't want to use too much force and damage anything. We have managed to get them to move a small amount, but not very much and definitely not smoothly. Is there a way to loosen the levers so that they flow freely or do I need to take the whole thing apart? When I look online all I seem to find is how to time a model a not repair/adjust the levers. Any thoughts or ideas would be greatly appreciated.
 
I would disconnect the linkage at the bottom, spray the levers where they exit the column liberally with WD40 rust remover, and then gently work them back and forth.
It is most likely the bottom end.
 
Mine were stuck also and it turned out to be the upper bushing...

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I had to replace mine, but you may want to try removing the steering wheel and lubricating this bushing where the rods go through it. Once you can get a little movement and some penetration of the lubricant they could free up.

You may have to attack the bottom end and as Bill points out, but that is best done with the column out of the car. You have to drive the pins out of the control arms..

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...and remove the control arms which is no fun with the column in the car.

If you do have to do this, you can then disassemble both top and bottom, lubricate properly and replace any bad parts.

You might also check to make sure the levers you move at the top of the column aren't mashed against the column for some odd reason.
 
I had one like this. We got the wheel off and were able to pull the rod out through the top with the column still in the car. Cleaned it up, lubed it and put it back in. Takes a little time to find the hole down there, but you will find it. Just stay with it. That pin on the bottom just shears off when you twist it.
 
A word of caution ...

The top of the steering shaft (correction) where the steering wheel fastens on is VERY thin steel and VERY easy to damage. Take it easy....

Impact wrench is NOT the tool to use here ...

The threads will be stripped off ...

Hammering on the nut to loosen it will destroy the threads.
 
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Thanks for the thoughts. I may try tackling it this weekend, although it sounds like it may be quite a job. I have heard if you have to take the column off, replace all you can so you don't have to do it again. Who knows what we will find. Thanks again.
 
aaronbokelmann said:
Thanks for the thoughts. I may try tackling it this weekend, although it sounds like it may be quite a job. I have heard if you have to take the column off, replace all you can so you don't have to do it again. Who knows what we will find. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
I would try the bottom lube in the car, if that doesn't do it, then the top after pulling the wheel. If you have to take the column out, I would use that for an opportunity to rebuild it completely.
 
Benson said:
A word of caution ...

The top of the sector shaft where the steering wheel fastens on is VERY thin steel and VERY easy to damage. Take it easy....

Impact wrench is NOT the tool to use here ...

The threads will be stripped off ...

Hammering on the nut to loosen it will destroy the threads.
Click to expand...

I think you mean the steering shaft - the one with the worm on it. The sector shaft is the one the pitman arm goes on.
 
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