Steering wheel locknut

[DaveW]

Advice please. Had wheel off. On replacing the locknut it will only do one turn before too tight for fingers only. Double checked not cross threaded and cleaned it but still tightens quickly. Am I alright to start with spanner from there? Does the thread "draw" a bit usually. Nut about quarter of inch away from wheel inner at point of resistance. Thank you.
(It was a bit tight all the way up the column thread to get it off in the first place.)

[les]

In a situation like that, and you’re sure it’s not cross threaded, use a socket and tighten nut a turn, then back off and remove, look for any damage or shine on the threads, indicating a problem. If all looks ok, i would suggest tightening with spanner again, and continue unless it gets unreasonably tight. Maybe use a little grease. You’ll appreciate diagnosis by mail can be difficult !
It’s not actually a locknut but the shakeproof washer under the nut does the locking.

[geoberni]

Well the size of nuts did change so the threads are different at different times.
But what I can say is that my SII nut will turn easily with fingers.
I've recently got the right socket and when trying it on the car, I found I could undo the nut with fingers and socket!!
Now later ones may be different, BUT you did say

(It was a bit tight all the way up the column thread to get it off in the first place.)

So clearly not as free to move as my one was.
But I am surprised you can't run it down with just fingers and the socket.

[DaveW]

Thank you for your replies. Appreciate there's nothing quite like actually seeing what's going on. There was no washer under the nut but I'm discovering other botched diy stuff so I'll remedy that if it should have one.

[geoberni]

Thank you for your replies. Appreciate there's nothing quite like actually seeing what's going on. There was no washer under the nut but I'm discovering other botched diy stuff so I'll remedy that if it should have one.

There is no Washer under the nut.
I use the BMC Parts Lists to check on such details which are often not included in the Workshop Manual.
The Cars had different Lists (MM/SII & 1000) but the LCVs had all their different lists combined into single manuals.
As I have a SII car, the LCV Lists are useful for the occasional common item, like checking all steering wheel variants.

steering nut.JPG (58.44 KiB) Viewed 348 times

The Parts lists I've been able to locate online as free pdf downloads:
Minor 1000
AKD 3541 Service parts
AKD 3542 Body parts

Minor LCV (all)
AKD 3574 Service parts
AKD 3575 Body parts

[svenedin]

On my late car, 1969, the steering wheel nut spins easily on the steering column thread and there is no undue tightness on the thread. It has never had a shake proof washer under the nut during my tenure but obviously that does not mean there shouldn't be such a washer....

I suppose it is possible that the nut has been cross-threaded in the past. Often the nut has been attacked with chisels or screwdrivers because people did not have the right socket. It can be slightly tricky to get the nut started because there is not much room but I use my trick to get any nut started which is to rotate the nut in the opposite direction to the tightening direction until I feel the click of the start of the thread.


Stephen

[les]

My apologies, I’m going back to my Mini days. The shakeproof washer is used with the Mini steering wheel nut, with this in mind I expect I now have this washer on my van !

[philthehill]

Whilst the Minor may not have had a factory fitted self locking washer fitted under the steering wheel nut it soon became obvious to BMC that there should be a shake-proof washer (Pt No: 53K3480) under the classic Mini steering wheel securing nut so as to stop the steering wheel becoming loose on the splines. I have seen loose steering wheels on classic Minis in the past.
The splines of the Minor steering column and the Mini are the same so I would highly recommend that a shake-proof washer is fitted. I have a shake-proof washer fitted under the steering wheel nut on my Minor which has a alloy classic Mini steering wheel centre boss.

[simmitc]

I agree completely, and have the said washer on my Minors, never a problem.

For DaveW, remove the steering wheel and double check how the nut performs on the column alone - access and viewing much better than with the wheel in place. The nut should spin easily. Once resolved, refit the wheel and then secure as normal.

[svenedin]

Whilst the Minor may not have had a factory fitted self locking washer fitted under the steering wheel nut it soon became obvious to BMC that there should be a shake-proof washer (Pt No: 53K3480) under the classic Mini steering wheel securing nut so as to stop the steering wheel becoming loose on the splines. I have seen loose steering wheels on classic Minis in the past.
The splines of the Minor steering column and the Mini are the same so I would highly recommend that a shake-proof washer is fitted. I have a shake-proof washer fitted under the steering wheel nut on my Minor which has a alloy classic Mini steering wheel centre boss.

Thank you for the part number. I have ordered a shakeproof washer.

Stephen

[DaveW]

Thanks for all the replies. It's now quite clear that the top quarter of the thread on the column has been butchered. The thread and nut show signs of the dreaded hammer and chisel manoeuvre. The nut won't go on with or without wheel in place. Time for visit to somebody who can " re-cut" a thread for me; outside my skill-set. Another weekend without the car to use. Very annoying in this lovely weather.
As an aside. I've looked at two spares specialists' web sites and neither list steering columns. Are they one of the few hard to get parts??

[Bill_qaz]

Maybe cheaper and easier to buy a thread file. Match the undamaged area to correct TPI the slowly work around the damaged section.

Screenshot_20250619-130121_eBay.jpg (68.92 KiB) Viewed 219 times

[DaveW]

Thanks Bill. Got to admit to never seeing one of these before.

[simmitc]

Second hand columns are usually easy to find as they do not tend to wear out. Using a tap and die to re-cut the thread should be the work of only a few minutes.