Steering 14 bolt

[Byro]

Building a steering 14 bolt for a friend of mine. Figured since I acquired the lathe why not.

Snagged a Mittler Bros alignment bar and pucks from Scummit scratch and sniff for $180. Spun up some alignment pucks for the tube ends and hub register.

Not too shabby for my 3rd lathe project.



Friend gave the measurements for the tubes and had them cut to what we figured to be the correct length +/- 1/4” Turned a scosche off them to make them not a super tight press fit. Getting everything mock assembled and I’ve run into some snags.

 

[Byro]

So all pretty square on the alignment bar and tube end pucks.

Center chunk.

Short side.

Long side.


Axle is going to be passenger drop, with ideally SD60 stock length 40spl shafts to give a 74” WMS width.

 

[Byro]

Moving out to the hub registers and I’m out about 3/16” on my pucks on both sides.

The register face and pucks are within a half degree out so it’s not a camber issue.

It transfers over to the inner shaft bearing as well.

 

[Bebop]

I'm going to assume the C's haven't been machined right ?

 

[Byro]

I’m thinking it’s in the BJEs. He brought me the knuckles with them already welded in.

It would be awesome if someone with a SD60 laying around could give me some measurements.



Bottom side of the knuckle where the upper joint presses in to the flat of the C where the caster shim would normally sit.

Then the other issue I’d like to check/figure out with a 1550 shaft I’m a half inch to long on the hub sitting into the register.

 

[Byro]

1480 shaft fits fine. If someone could measure this stand off to make sure I’m not pressed too deep into the C.

It’s in 1/4” currently. From what it looked like that’s where the original tube was pressed to. I have no real idea though because he brought me BKOR Cs already machined.

 

[Byro]

I'm going to assume the C's haven't been machined right ?

BKOR Cs that we’re already cleaned up.

I turned the tubes to make them a lighter press fit so I could adjust tube length/caster if need be.

 

[Bebop]

I’m thinking it’s in the BJEs. He brought me the knuckles with them already welded in.

It would be awesome if someone with a SD60 laying around could give me some measurements.

I can measure that tonight and I've got BJEs too

Then the other issue I’d like to check/figure out with a 1550 shaft I’m a half inch to long on the hub sitting into the register.

Hmmm
I know that 450/550 axles are about 0.5" longer than 250/350 units. Wrong parts?

 

[Byro]

I can measure that tonight and I've got BJEs too



Hmmm
I know that 450/550 axles are about 0.5" longer than 250/350 units. Wrong parts?

Sure enough.

1480

1550

I was under the assumption the 250/350 C/knuckle would accept the 1550 shafts without any modifications. I’m still fairly new to the custom built SD60s. All my stuff is dirty old KPs.

 

[Bebop]

I was under the assumption the 250/350 C/knuckle would accept the 1550 shafts without any modifications. I’m still fairly new to the custom built SD60s. All my stuff is dirty old KPs.

There are 1550 F250/350 shafts and 1550 F450/550 shafts.
They are different, as you found out.

 

[TTRAxle&FAB]

The stub is 7.032 on the f250/350 ahaft
7.5 on the 450/550 stub

 

[Byro]

The stub is 7.032 on the f250/350 ahaft
7.5 on the 450/550 stub

I see it now with them laying side by side.

So I’m good on my C pressed length onto the tube.

 

[TTRAxle&FAB]

Yes sir

 

[Bebop]

Shitty pic bc the tie rod was in the way.
Calibrated eyeball says the top part of the brass piece is right at 3”

 

[Byro]

I had him send me some pics of his other SD60 axle in his JK. BJE spacing is the same on all of them.

The axle shaft favors the bottom of the tube on that one as well.

I can only assume it’s for the camber/caster shim and the caster roll when turning.

 

[Byro]

So after figuring out that the long side shaft was a complete 450/550 shaft and getting my hands on the correct length long side I cut 2.75” of the long side and 0.75” of the short tube for a WMS of 71”

This gave proper spline engagement on the stock D60 shafts, (this will be custom 40spl but the numbers were needed to use the BKOR spool to run the D60 shafts in the 14b)

This was the shaft after cutting the long side tube to fit the longer 450/550 shaft. The spline offset on the 14b spool wouldn’t even engage the shaft.

 

[Byro]

Got wild with the lathe after cutting the long side down, I had to take off .100” to get a light press fit into the 14b center and had to re turn it after cutting.

 

[Byro]

Stuck everything together one last time, 4° on the pinion, 6° caster sounded good. Preheated the chunk, cranked the heat on the ESAB and let her have it. I double passed the chunk and Cs, probably didn’t need to but I’ve always wanted to turn it all the way up.

Wrapped it up and let it slow cool.

Left the alignment bar and pucks in during the welding/cooling process, bar spun freely before and after so I’d say she stayed straight.

Some heaters out of the 235.

 

[Byro]

All finished up. 4.88 gears ready to party. Gotta call ECGS and get shafts ordered.