Drag link adjustment

[Larry S.]

I tried a search not much came up. I removed, disassembled and cleaned the drag link on my deuce yesterday. How tight should I make the adjusters?? Just touching or should it compress the spring slightly. There was a good bit of play in the joints and nothing looked excessively worn.

 

[rustystud]

I tried a search not much came up. I removed, disassembled and cleaned the drag link on my deuce yesterday. How tight should I make the adjusters?? Just touching or should it compress the spring slightly. There was a good bit of play in the joints and nothing looked excessively worn.

There is a torque spec in the TM for this. The spring will be almost totally compressed but I'm not sure of the specs. I did a write up on this years ago but I cannot remember now.

 

[Larry S.]

There is a torque spec in the TM for this. The spring will be almost totally compressed but I'm not sure of the specs. I did a write up on this years ago but I cannot remember now.

Thank you rustystud.

 

[gringeltaube]

T M 9 - 2 3 2 0 - 2 0 9 - 2 0 - 3 - 2 (May1981), Paragraph 15-9

There is a torque spec in the TM for this.

I'm not sure about that one...

 

[ldmack3]

Why did you decide to pull it? I've got sloppy steering and have found nothing so far.

 

[Larry S.]

Why did you decide to pull it? I've got sloppy steering and have found nothing so far.

It had some slop in both ends and I wanted to make sure nothing was broken or missing.

 

[rustystud]

Thats

T M 9 - 2 3 2 0 - 2 0 9 - 2 0 - 3 - 2 (May1981), Paragraph 15-9

View attachment 860875


I'm not sure about that one...

That's why I said to look in the TM since I don't remember.

 

[ldmack3]

With the slop in your drag link did you notice slop in your steering? I've pulled mine and found some wear in the aft ball connection.

 

[Larry S.]

With the slop in your drag link did you notice slop in your steering? I've pulled mine and found some wear in the aft ball connection.

Mine was worn or out of adjustment to the point that the springs were not compressed at all. An old mechanic I know said the springs should be compressed until the metal stubs inside of them touch and the backed of until you can get the cotter pin in. He said that was how they adjusted them on the old Mack's he worked on.

 

[gringeltaube]

An old mechanic I know said the springs should be compressed until the metal stubs inside of them touch and the backed of until you can get the cotter pin in. He said that was how they adjusted them on the old Mack's he worked on.

He is correct. And that's how the TM tells you to proceed: tighten, then back off a bit (maximum 1/2 turn) until the pin fits through.
Of course that only applies to new- or fairly new ball studs with no obvious wear.