MTFCA Forum

I am removing the steering column from my 1927 coupe and am having troubling removing the piece at the very end of the shaft. The Ford instructions says to remove the castle nut and then hit it with a hammer. It won't move, and I want to be careful not to damage the piece. Any suggestions??

Get a bigger hammer.
I use a brass drift so I don't pound directly on the arm itself. Sometimes it pops off with one good whack. More often it's stubborn and takes considerable work to knock it loose. There's a puller made especially for this particular job, but I haven't bought it yet.

Do you have the column out or are you trying this still in the car? If you have not pulled out of the car, it can be done without pulling the arm.

If you only want to remove the column, you remove the 3 bolts which attach the lower bracket to the frame. You also remove the rods to the timer and the carburetor and the bracket under the instrument panel (on a 26-27) and the 4 bolts which attach it to the firewall. You can then pull it up inside the body and remove. To remove the arm, you need a puller. If you remove the nut and hit with a hammer, you will ruin the gear box under the steering wheel. If you want to replace the shaft,you need to remove the steering wheel and the top of the steering box. and the 3 planetary gears. Then you could hit it with a hammer without breaking the stearing gear box. However, be very careful or you could damage the threads at the end of the column. Note there is a key there and the shaft is tapered,. So a puller will be the best way to remove the arm. Either buy or borrow a puller.
Norm

it helps to take the steering wheel off when you do this, more room to move around. Just did a re-install on a 26 today.

I have removed the column in my '27 Touring several times. It is much easier with the Pitman arm removed, but it can be done with the arm still installed. The main problem is that there is only one position where the arm can be snaked through the firewall, and it isn't any of the 38 that you just tried.

Norm, The Ford instructions says to use a hammer to hit the pitman arm to remove it. You said hitting with a hammer will damage the gear box. Could you comment further on this?

it would depend on just you hit with the hammer. If you hit the end of the shaft it could damage the thread. If you hit the arm, it might come off without damage. I have had no luck with a hammer in times past, but it comes off with the proper puller. You need a puller with jaws which will fit between the bottom bracket and the arm. If the bracket is removed from the frame, you can push it up the shaft and most pullers will work.
Norm

It is best to remove the arm with a combination of a puller and a hammer. Mount the puller and screw it as tight as you can. If the arm will not budge, tap the side (not the end of the shaft) of the arm with a hammer. Sometimes a penetrant, such as “Blaster”, sprayed on and allowed to penetrate and loosen the years of crud holding the arm tight will help separate the arm from the shaft. Heat, used in the right way can also help to release a stubborn shaft. Heat, when carefully applied expands the steel. If you heat just the arm and not the shaft, with a propane torch, it will cause the arm to expand enough to pop off. Stop before the heat gets to the shaft, or the shaft will expand too. Jim Patrick

I got the column out with the pitman arm on. Thanks to everyone who responded!!