Indicator cancelling

[JeremyD]

In the manual, it says the steering column pinch bolt should be horizontal at the bottom and the indicator stalk on the right at 20degrees.

I presume for the indictors to cancel, the small square cancel bolt should be positioned in the centre of the indicator stalk with the left and right cancel cams either side.

On my steering column, the hole for the small square cancel bolt is directly opposite to the horizontal pinch bolt which means if I position the pinch bolt horizontally at the bottom, the cancel bolt will be at 12 o'clock. If that's the case, I don't understand how the indicators will cancel.

The first diagram shows how the column is, with pinch bolt in correct position with the cancel bolt at 12 o'clock
The second diagram is how I presume the cancel bolt must be positioned between the two cams to cancel indicators, but that won't be possible if the column is installed to the pinch bolt horizontal at the bottom.

Any thoughts? Thanks

[Oneball]

Are you looking at the correct hole, not the one for the horn?

[JeremyD]

Are you looking at the correct hole, not the one for the horn?

It's definitely the hole with the square head cancel bolt in it.

[Ronnie]

Left hand drive perhaps See here> viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34291&p=299274#p299274

[JeremyD]

Left hand drive perhaps See here> viewtopic.php?f=3&t=34291&p=299274#p299274

Thanks for the thought. It looks to me from the diagram on that link, that the lhd column is identical to the rhd column which is why the pinch bolt has to swing round so the cancel bolt is on the left. In those diagrams the cancel bolt is at roughly 90 degrees to the pinch bolt. Mine is 180 degrees which is directly opposite the pinch.

[Peter Laidler]

One question first.
Has this steering column and indicator assembly been working in your car in the past. If it has, then it's clearly a re-assembly problem.

I think that this will be solved with a few clear photos to be honest

[JeremyD]

One question first.
Has this steering column and indicator assembly been working in your car in the past. If it has, then it's clearly a re-assembly problem.

I think that this will be solved with a few clear photos to be honest

The column has been fine but the indicator didn’t cancel so I took it apart and discovered the cancel bolt was nowhere near the indicator cams. I realised to make it work, I would have to rotate the column so the cancel bolt lined up with the indicator. That meant the pinch bolt was vertical on the left because they are directly opposite.

[JeremyD]

One question first.
Has this steering column and indicator assembly been working in your car in the past. If it has, then it's clearly a re-assembly problem.

I think that this will be solved with a few clear photos to be honest

Here are the pictures. You can see that when the cancel bolt is at 3 o’clock, the pinch bolt is vertical

[Oneball]

I think that bolt is a long way down the shaft from where it should be, could it be that someone has modified a mk1 inner column to work with a cancelling stalk?

[JeremyD]

I think that bolt is a long way down the shaft from where it should be, could it be that someone has modified a mk1 inner column to work with a cancelling stalk?

Interesting comment. It’s a 1966 Cooper S. As far as I know all minis have indicators that cancel, even those with the light on the end of the stalk like mine. So I can’t see why someone would have drilled a new hole.

[Fanfaniracing]

Maybe because someone has fitted the column 180 degree wrong and then drilled a new hole.

Seen things like that many times...

[Peter Laidler]

Surely the simple answer is this. Regardless of whether it is left or right hand, Mk1 or 2 or any other variable, just and importantly, CENTRE THE STEERING RACK first. Replace the bare steering column ensuring that the bottom locking and locating bolt slides through the column pinch block and the oval recess in the pinion. With me so far.....

Now carefully mark, drill and tap the new hole for the cancelling 'T' bolt and lock-nut.
Look up previous tech article on how to best adjust for height and lock-up
End of problem I say

[Polarsilver]

Peter is correct ..start afresh and make sure the steering rack is centered & the pinch bolt of the colum should be at the bottom ( on a RHD car)..
( i have had two MS supplied new RHD steering racks that the clamp bolt groove in the splines were supplied wrong in position). the steering colum should then align with the Trip Block in the correct position.. if not i suspect someone has applied a bodge in the past.. but first fit the Indicator switch see that switch half clamp has a very small indent to get that switch positioned in the correct place ..thereafter you can then decide if the trip block is in its correct position & if it needs to be re-drilled & tapped to get it in correct alignment with the trip tags on the Indicator switch
Fit the steering wheel in alignment & then when it comes to setting the "tracking" always adjust the Track rods equal amount side to side then the wheel stays center & so does the Steering rack.. all good fun

[JeremyD]

Thank you evrryone

[Oneball]

You were right my mk1 does have the hole in the column, no bolt though. For 25 years I’ve just thought they weren’t supposed to cancel!!

[JeremyD]

You were right my mk1 does have the hole in the column, no bolt though. For 25 years I’ve just thought they weren’t supposed to cancel!!

[JeremyD]

Peter is correct ..start afresh and make sure the steering rack is centered & the pinch bolt of the colum should be at the bottom ( on a RHD car)..
( i have had two MS supplied new RHD steering racks that the clamp bolt groove in the splines were supplied wrong in position). the steering colum should then align with the Trip Block in the correct position.. if not i suspect someone has applied a bodge in the past.. but first fit the Indicator switch see that switch half clamp has a very small indent to get that switch positioned in the correct place ..thereafter you can then decide if the trip block is in its correct position & if it needs to be re-drilled & tapped to get it in correct alignment with the trip tags on the Indicator switch
Fit the steering wheel in alignment & then when it comes to setting the "tracking" always adjust the Track rods equal amount side to side then the wheel stays center & so does the Steering rack.. all good fun

I centred the rack today but what’s weird is that the pinch bolt is now horizontal but it’s at the top ! That seems to indicate that at some stage the pinion was installed 180 degrees incorrectly. I can’t think of any other reason. I don’t think it matters. All I want is to get the damn indicators cancelling. So I’ll do the alignment tomorrow and when I know where the cancel bolt should be, I’ll drill a hole for it.