Pittman arm alignment

[Mark McCombs]

Installed the steering column today and offered up the Pittman arm (which was already installed with the steering linkages) to engage with the bishop box splined shaft. I see an alignment mark on the Pittman arm on the flat surface next to the splined hole, but its on the top surface, which is the same side of the pittman arm with the raised letters/numbers.

Any chance the Pittman arm is installed upside down? If it's flipped over, it looks like the hash marks on the Pittman arm and shaft will line up....

Thanks
Mark TC8126

[Martin Johnson]

Hello Mark:
If you have not sorted this already, I refer you to the Instruction Manual, aka "The Brown Book" page 38, second para from the bottom of the page. If you have a mark on the drop arm, that surface should be downward facing, and line up as you noted. The final para states why this is important. If incorrectly fitted, the steering lock will be limited in one direction, and the box' internals may be damaged.
Cheers
Martin Johnson
TC6219

[Mark McCombs]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for your note. After watching one of Doug's excellent videos via FTFU, I see that the drop arm has a downward taper....which would place the hash mark on the bottom surface, allowing alignment with the corresponding mark on the steering box shaft. So my drop arm was installed upside down in 1963, but never completely assembled.

Mark McCombs
TC8126 exu