1275 gt steering wheel doesn't fit

[Richspec]

Fitting (or attempting to) an early 1275gt steering wheel to a later (78) model with the latest style cowl.
The boss of the wheel is too thick and there no threads to put a nut on.

I'm assuming this is due to differences in cowling / column.?? And there's no way round it.?

Customer wasn't best pleased when I told him his expensive steering wheel doesn't fit.!!

Rich

[timmy201]

I was reading on the Moto Lita page the other day and there was a change to the length of the taper on the column/wheel

Boss B25 = 9.96mm taper at 8 degrees
Some other bosses have a taper of 14mm

I haven’t been able to figure out where/if the change happened in minis and which is which yet

[GraemeC]

That’s an odd one Rich - I had an early 3 spoked GT wheel on a Mk4 column in my GT for a bit, and regularly fit a clubman wheel (the same, just no leather or silvered spokes) on my rally car with a late column & cowl.

[Polarsilver]

had Mk1 GT steering wheel that would not fit onto my 1977 year built 1275GT ..this was a while ago but i seem to remember the later wheel has the extension casting underside that is needed to trip the Trafficator off.. IF i remember the early wheel did not have that feature .

[Richspec]

the suggestion via Minispares is to check the outer cowling is pushed down far enough to give the column more poke through.

It wasnt assembled by me, but just like everything else on the car its probably wrong and needs taking apart and putting back together correctly..

[GraemeC]

From memory the cowling position is fixed to the outer column as the brackets are welded, however the outer column could well move further down the inner as long as the welded piece to stop it rotating is still within the dash rail clamp.

[Richspec]

sorted Yes i had to remove the whole thing and then move the inner up the outer to get some thread engagement, I'd say a good inch so from one end of the flat section sitting in the bracket to the other.
I also noted, fully threaded bolt not like the proper pinch bolt i had in stock and the rack was the type with the full circumference groove in it, so thats definitely the original.

so flushed with some success we decided to try running the engine for the first time, eventually got it fired but then it built pressure and started pissing water out of the lower back water pump bolt...

Bloody minis...

[Peter Laidler]

I'm a bit puzzled about your comment regarding the pinion Rich. Surely a pinion with a FULL 360 degree recess for the pinch bolt is a Mk1 pinion. The Mk2 onwards pinion has a single flat across the pinion. This ensures that when the rack is centred, the steering column AND pinch bolt can only be replaced in one position. That is when the actual column pinch bolt holes are aligned with that single flat and the pinch bolt passes cleanly through.

That's my understanding of the different pinions (and racks of course...) Mk1 pinion: FULL radial recess for pinch bolt. Mk2 pinion: single flat for accurate positioning of column. Unless they changed sometime later to cater for something.....

[Richspec]

Thats entirely my understanding as well Peter, but who knows whats occurred during its lifetime.! It certainly lost a lot of its original parts.