Steering rack: no of teeth on pinion

[Higs]

Hi

I have stripped my steering rack ('68 Plus 2) and need a new rack bar and pinion. The supplier says that a Plus 2 has a 6 tooth pinion - but of course my Plus 2 has one with 7 teeth. (Note that the rack can accept either a 6 tooth or 7 tooth pinion - so the rack is no help here.)

Searching the archives, there is some discussion about turns lock to lock - and therefore pinion teeth numbers but no definitive answer on whether the Plus 2 was different from the Elan - or if this changed over time or not.

Does anyone have any information that could help?

Thanks

Richard

[seriouslylotus]

Yes 6 and 7 toothed pinion where available fo the Triumoph steering racks The Triumph GT6 had a 6 toothed pinion ad the Herald a 7 toothed pinion.
Have a good search in here
http://www.canleyclassics.com/?xhtml=xh ... d1360.html
Part numbers and models etc etc

[andyelan]

Hi Everyone
I can say for definite that my '73 Plus 2S130 has a 6 tooth pinion and my '74 Europa Special has a 7 tooth pinion, otherwise the racks are identical. I assume the 2 seat Elan uses the same 7 tooth pinion as the Europa and I have a suspision early Plus 2s did too, however, I have no proof of this.

In my opinion the 6 tooth pinion on the Plus 2 makes the steering far too light and I believe it is this which has given rise to some owners complaining of a rather vague floaty feeling with the car.

It's my intention to try replacing the pinion on my Plus 2 with a 7 tooth when I get time, but the biggest problem doing this at the moment has been finding anyone who actually has one for sale

Regards
Andy

[Higs]

Andy

Thanks for this info.

You can get the bits from Kiley-Clinton in Birmingham:

http://www.steering-racks.co.uk/

Very helpful and they do stuff for Paul Matty (other than they proposed the 6 tooth pinion - but if their was a change later in production then that would explain things).

Richard

[ardee_selby]

The +2 parts list (1976 edition) doesn't reflect any change points for the "steering unit assembly". Implies same used up to that date...whatever it was.

Cheers - Richard

[types26/36]

Here is an interesting article regarding Triumph racks and mentioning no. of teeth.
http://www.tsoaq.org.au/technical-information/22.html

[Higs]

To move this forward, I would like to do a poll.

Could anyone who has a Plus 2 and could be bothered please reply with the approximate number of turns from lock to lock?

I am looking for answers to the nearest 1/4 of a turn or so. They should be in the range of 2.5 - 3.5. Telling us the model of Plus 2 would b useful as well.

Thanks.

Richard