njjeeper Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Hi all. So the previous owner of my Ferret rebuilt the steering gear and I am afraid something is wrong. When I turn the steering wheel to the left, the front wheels turn right. Turn the steering wheel to the right, the front wheel go left. I have looked at everything and I cant seem to understand why it would be like this. I would think driving would be terribly difficult if the truck goes the opposite direction of the steering wheel. Could something be assembled wrong in the steering gear? Any help would be much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexton Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 There's only one way I could see that happening, item 4 in the first drawing being reversed. The second drawing shows item 4 in more detail and it does look like it is symmetric enough to be installed either way. What a bummer. Malcolm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Hi all. So the previous owner of my Ferret rebuilt the steering gear and I am afraid something is wrong. When I turn the steering wheel to the left, the front wheels turn right. Turn the steering wheel to the right, the front wheel go left. I have looked at everything and I cant seem to understand why it would be like this. I would think driving would be terribly difficult if the truck goes the opposite direction of the steering wheel. Could something be assembled wrong in the steering gear? Any help would be much appreciated. I hesitate to ask this, but have you ever driven a Ferret before? Reason I ask is I have seem first-timers get in one and grasp the wheel with their hands the wrong way. As you look at it if the top of the steering wheel if it is turned left, then the vehicle steers left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njjeeper Posted September 27, 2015 Author Share Posted September 27, 2015 No worries Richard, I had the same fear. That I was doing it wrong. But in this ferret, if the top of the sheel is turned left, the vehicles goes right. Is it really possible that the steering gear was installed backwards?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 No worries Richard, I had the same fear. That I was doing it wrong. But in this ferret, if the top of the sheel is turned left, the vehicles goes right. Is it really possible that the steering gear was installed backwards?? OK, then what has happened is the guy has assembled the horizontal cross shaft assembly the wrong way round. This is the part at bottom of steering column. It needs to be completely removed. There is a recirculating balls arrangement within it and he has assembled it wrong meaning the bevel gear on the cross shaft is engaged on the wrong side, thus reversing movement. Would be challenging to drive for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard Farrant Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 No worries Richard, I had the same fear. That I was doing it wrong. But in this ferret, if the top of the sheel is turned left, the vehicles goes right. Is it really possible that the steering gear was installed backwards?? OK, then what has happened is the guy has assembled the horizontal cross shaft assembly the wrong way round. This is the part at bottom of steering column. It needs to be completely removed. There is a recirculating balls arrangement within it and he has assembled it wrong meaning the bevel gear on the cross shaft is engaged on the wrong side, thus reversing movement. Would be challenging to drive for sure. Edit; Just noticed Malcolm's post :blush:, he had already mentioned that. At least I ascertained it was not driver error, would have been annoying to strip and find it was OK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starfire Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 Before you fix it though, you need to take the ferret, a video camera, a few of your mates and some beer to a large open field and challenge them all to drive it around a track. Post the results on Youtube Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Suslowicz Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) Before you fix it though, you need to take the ferret, a video camera, a few of your mates and some beer to a large open field and challenge them all to drive it around a track. Post the results on Youtube Just like the "impossible to ride" pushbike[1], except that they can't fall off. Chris [1] Geared steering so it works opposite to what you expect, just like that Ferret. (It is apparently possible to ride the bike by crossing your arms, so it might be possible to steer the Ferret by gripping the bottom of the wheel instead of the top... you may wish to invest in heavy-duty worry beads and serious prayer before trying it, though.) Edited September 27, 2015 by Chris Suslowicz Punk tuition error (wrong bracket) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njjeeper Posted September 28, 2015 Author Share Posted September 28, 2015 (edited) Mystery solved. I guess the previous builder missed this section of the manual FYI as an additional piece of info to help anyone in the future. The word GEAR is embossed in big letters on the recirculating housing. That's the side the bevel gear on the recirculating ball needs to go. It's the RH side of the housing. Edited September 29, 2015 by njjeeper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexton Posted October 1, 2015 Share Posted October 1, 2015 I was going to blame the designer for designing a critical part that can be installed the wrong way round without it being obvious. But then it occurred to me that that steering design may be used on multiple types of vehicles, some with the tie rods acting on the front side of the knuckles like the Ferret and some on the rear side, which would allow just flipping that part to reverse the steering action, as you found. No consolation to you, of course. :-( Malcolm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Herbert Posted October 2, 2015 Share Posted October 2, 2015 I suspect that with a bit of practice you could learn to drive it as it is. It would be a really effective way to stop anyone stealing it but would make for an interesting court apearence if you did have an accident. I am sure that others have got this wrong before. David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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