Shackle wear.

[Tony Fearn]

I've been talking to Julian about checking the shackles on his newly-acquired Kestrel, and sent him a photo of a very worn one.
Now that most pre-wars are laid up for the winter, it might just be worth checking the shackles, and if they look like the attached photo, do something about them.
The front ones such as on on 'Mary Ellen' (1934) are hidden under the leading edge of the front wing, so may be hard to see, but make sure you do check them.

front shackle.JPG

It might also be wise, over the winter, to have a look at the steering balls as well. I have seen several that have been rather worn, and you can imagine what a big pothole could do at 30mph.

steering balls.jpg

Tony.

[AlanBartlett]

Funny you should mention this Tony, on inspection of my pre war over the summer I luckily found what could have been a disaster, not that the ball shaft was worn, but the actual ball shaft had pulled out from its hole, which was creating alot of excess play in the steering. As it was moving around in its slot. So making sure it didn't come out again I had it braized to the track rod to make sure its not going come out again! As I renewed the balls during the earlier restoration of my pre war. Though they should be as I recall a tight/pressed fit.

[Tony Fearn]

Hello Alan,
I seem to think that there are two types of the ball, in essence of similar dimensions apart from the length of the shaft. I can't remember where the longer/shorter ones fit (it should be obvious if you're looking at the one needing changing). The shaft needs to protrude after being tapped through the hole and the projection treated to a bit of oxy-acetylene heat so that it can be peened over, as in rivetting. This would prevent it coming loose. Brazing would have the same effect of course.
I also recall the shaft of similar balls having a screw end, with a castle nut and split pin giving the same effect, but perhaps these were non-Jowett.
George will tell all!
Tony.

[AlanBartlett]

Tony,

I think you are right that some are different lengths, I found this on the Bradford when I stripped it down some of the track rod balls were different to the pre war.

Also some having a screw thread on the end, the one out of the pre war steering box is of a screw thread, (If I remember rightly), with a 5/16th whit spanner fitting around the base of the ball.

[Tony Fearn]

Also some having a screw thread on the end, the one out of the pre war steering box is of a screw thread, (If I remember rightly), with a 5/16th whit spanner fitting around the base of the ball.

All the early steering boxes I have do not have a screw thread, they are just peened over as I described previously.

Pre-war steering boxes.jpg

Perhaps later 7s, 8s and 10s have the screwed type.
I don't know.

Tony.

[george garside]

I think the threaded ball was used somewhere around 1931/2. Earlier ones were peened as were 1933 onwards. The 10/4 never used the Jowett steering box being Marles Weller equipped up to and including '39 models. Both 8 and 10 had Burman boxes for 1940

george

[ian Howell]

On (or rather very slightly off) the subject, the inner part of the steering box on my Long Four has had a very interesting repair at some time.

Obviously there was considerable wear, so the inner part was machined down and a collar made and fitted (possibly shrunk on and then pinned with three tapped pegs), presumably reducing the clearance to a couple of thou'.

There is now about 7 thou' wear again, and I am considering repeating the 'repair' process. It shouldn't be too difficult to machine up what amounts to a large (about 4" dia.), unsplit, piston ring and to remove and replace the present collar.

At present I have put a 3 thou' shim in the gap and the difference is well worthwhile although it does tend to drop out occasionally.

Any other thoughts / ideas?

[Tony Fearn]

Any other thoughts / ideas?

Sorry Ian, I can't comment. I can't visualise which part of the box you're talking about.
Perhaps a scanned drawing will help.
Does it differ from the 33-34 boxes?
Tony.

[george garside]

Yes! to quote Jowetts description of the earlier box ''up to the end of 1930, a geared ring revolved round 2 plates, and if there was excessive wear between the faces, the ring became sloppy. To take up this wear, the spacing washers holding the two plates apart had to be filed until a correct fit was reached. In 1931 the ring gear took the form of a central plate with increased bearing surfaces, but the adjustment remained the same.''

The last version of the box started in 1933 and continued to '39 on cars and '37 on commercials.

george

[ian Howell]

Brilliant!

Thanks George, I will now have to have another look to see if the option you describe is still available to me following the earlier 'modification'.

Tony: -

I will try to get photos to show what I mean - that bit is easy - but I usually have trouble getting them onto the website as the files, as they come off the camera, are too big. I am sure Keith will explain how to do it, but I am much happier with spanners than with software!

'Peggy' is looking rather sad at the moment as I am stripping off all the bits that would get in the way when the 'skin' is fitted, things like windows, door cappings, door cards, windscreen, etc., and then there will be the back wings, running boards and valences once I get to the 'skinners'.

Oh, and as an aside - I have found a possible source of ball joint innerds. My son James brought me a suspension drop link from (I think) a Vauxhall. The ball ends appear to be about the right size (diameter) and they have a plain shank that might be capable of being made to fit.

Either way, many drop links have these ball joint ends, so it seems likely that something might fit!

Ain't life grand?!

[AlanBartlett]

Tony,

You were right, I have recently taken the steering box off my pre war to grease it and check it out. The ball on the box wasn't a screw thread after it was just a press fit. I wonder where I am confusing the spanner fitting ball with the ones the pre war?.....

On another note is the the upside down eccentric fitting for the steering column fitted with shims? Around where the three bolts screwed in? Having not taken it apart before I was wondering what was inside.

Alan

[Keith Clements]

Ian et al,
The simplest way I find is to use the JowettGallery upload applet. You do this by selecting the 'upload applet' tab on the 'add items' menu selection in an album where you want to put the pictures. But make sure you tick the 'Resize pictures' box at the bottom of the applet screen.

This applet is downloaded to your browser so you may need to accept this loading when the security system kicks in.
The applet allows you to drag and drop or select files (or folders of files) when clicking the 'add items' button.

When you have added all the files you then click the ' upload button'. A progress bar tells you exactly what is happening. This method is easy and fast.

Seehere for more explanation.

To link the items into your JowettTalk post follow this topic.

Of course, you can use the facilities on your computer before uploading them. Microsoft Paint, Windows Live Photo Gallery and most picture processing programs have such facilities.

[ian Howell]

Applet?

[Forumadmin]

An apple you have with tea.
Happy Christmas.
Or a small piece of software.