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Gas Yamaha Gas Yamaha Golf Cars; G1 through "The Drive" and U-Max Utility Vehicles



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Old 06-25-2015, 07:48 PM   #1
GasYammiWannaRun
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Yamaha
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 29
Default G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Long story short, I picked up a G1 Yami that had a free sign on it down the road and I got it running and need to work on steering.

As for the steering, the steering wheel has 3-4 inches of play and then I have to reef on it to turn. The Yami wanders and it seems to turn right better than left which seems to require turning the wheel a lot more. Clear vision is also off quit a bit.

I see the cross bar bracket welded to the frame near the center of the bumper is cracked but that member looks stationary and goes to the drivers side spindle. The left toe is off and I could not get the jam nut loose at the wheel end. So I loosened the jam nut at the drop-link end instead and I still cannot turn the tie-rod to extend the length. Will get some PB blaster and work on that.

With the tie end end off the spindle though, it is hard to pivot (push/pull) the left wheel. So it looks like I need to remove the king pin and grease it up or replace it? Does the king pin rotate in any bushings or might the spindle be bad too?

Also, it looks like all the play is coming from the steering column to drop link/pitman arm. I also noticed the arm goes up/down as I turn the steering wheel left/right. Why is that? What is the torque on this 7/8" nut? I don't have an impact wrench but think I should remove the pitman arm and try retightening it. Sound like the right direction?

Thanks for any help/advice.
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Old 06-29-2015, 06:36 PM   #2
GasYammiWannaRun
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Yamaha
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 29
Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

How do you get the kingpin out? I took the wheel off (what a job that was as the wheel kept spinning when trying to remove the lug nuts) and then I got the roll pin out.

I tried PB blaster and hammering from the bottom upward. Is there a tool I can get to push the kingpin out like a steering wheel puller?
What's that male notch on top of the king pin for - should it turn?

I think this is a 1979 G1 and there is no nut on the bottom of the kingpin.
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Old 07-09-2015, 09:14 PM   #3
GasYammiWannaRun
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

I beat on the kingpin and the knuckle with a hammer enough times and repeatedly sprayed PB blaster on this joint. Now the knuckle pivots quite easily, even by gravity, so I don't need new King pin! Good for another 36 years...

Turned out the looseness in the steering was due to the large idler arm nut (not pitman arm) being very loose, coupled with a bad inboard tie rod end (I ordered a pair of right hand threaded ones last week). I don't think I even need to adjust the steering gear screw or replace the oil with grease at this point.

I can't wait to get the tie rod ends replaced and start driving this thing. Should not have any more snow plowing and fighting the wheel!

This site has so much useful information in it; you just have to keep searching.
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Old 07-09-2015, 09:42 PM   #4
Mike Mac
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Continue checking each part, but huge improvement with packing the steering gear with grease!!

Keep reading the site, and doing maint!!

Oh, nice score, for free!!
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Old 07-09-2015, 10:48 PM   #5
Cvans
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Location: Eastern SD.
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Is it still hard to turn near the ends of the right and left cycle?
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Old 07-10-2015, 06:46 PM   #6
GasYammiWannaRun
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Thanks Mike!

Cvans - It was hard to turn at any range. I see no reason why it would be now but will report when get the new tie rod ends on, put the front wheels on the ground and drive this.
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Old 07-10-2015, 11:28 PM   #7
Cvans
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Try turning it when the tie rods are disconnected. This will give you an idea if the gearbox is binding.
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Old 07-11-2015, 07:10 AM   #8
GasYammiWannaRun
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Default Re: G1 steering hard to turn and tons of play

Cvans, I understand now and that I have done. Zero binding through full range from clockwise to counter clockwise hard stops. Aslo holding the pitman arm in one hand and rotating the steering wheel slightly left and right seems to be no free play, now that the pitman arm nut is tight. I am suspecting once I load up the system with the tie rods hooked up and front wheels on the ground if I may get some free play, but should be minimal if I can't feel in now. Thanks.
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