SMB-138 – Steering Stop Adjustment – New Flyer

SEOCONTENT-STARTSMB-138B 1 of 6
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
This Service Manual Bulletin is prepared by the Publications Department of New Flyer Industries
Canada ULC. Refer to details below.
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
ISSUE DATE: Feb 01 2016
SMB-138B
APPLICABILITY
VEHICLE LENGTH  30ft.  35ft.  40ft.  60ft.  ALL
VEHICLE TYPE
 Xcelsior®  MiDi®  Invero®
 ALL
 Low Floor  High Floor
FUEL TYPE
 Diesel  Diesel/Electric  CNG  LNG
 ALL
 Fuel Cell  Trolley/Electric  Battery/Electric
SUBJECT Steering Stop Adjustment
VOK-07F Front Axle
SECTION TITLE 3 – STEERING SYSTEM
INITIAL DETAILS This bulletin provides revised information on the adjustment of the steering
stop on your New Flyer Vehicle.
This bulletin supersedes any prior information on this subject already provided
in your New Flyer Service Manuals. Make this Service Bulletin available
to service personnel to inform them of changed information.
REV B DETAILS SMB138 dated Oct 14 2014 has been revised to:
❒ Correct information provided for the Mechanical Steering Stop
Adjustment on 35 and 40 ft. New Flyer Vehicles.
❒ Correct information provided for the Automatic Plunger
Adjustment on 35, 40 and 60ft. New Flyer Vehicles (not applicable
to Invero).
❒ Add information for the Special Tools List used on 35, 40 and 60ft.
Vehicles (not applicable to Invero).
2 of 6 SMB-138B
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-138B
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
1. Wheel Alignment
Adjustments (35 & 40 ft.)
1.1. Steering Stops
The travel of the steering system is limited
by mechanical stops on the steering
knuckle and a hydraulic relief setting within
the power steering gear.
❒ The mechanical stops on the steering
knuckle provide a safe minimum clearance
between the tire and the chassis.
❒ The hydraulic power steering relief provides
a means of relieving hydraulic pressure
prior to contacting the mechanical
steering stop and determines the maximum
usable wheel cut or steering angle.
Hydraulic relief is provided by automatic
relief valve plungers located in the bearing
cap and cylinder head.
1.1.1. Mechanical Steering Stop Adjustment
The mechanical left-hand and right-hand
steering stops are factory preset to obtain
a minimum clearance of 3/8″ between the
tire and the chassis, suspension, or steering
components. The maximum usable
steering cut is determined by the power
steering relief valve which is automatically
set to relieve before the axle stop bolt contacts
the axle boss.
During the alignment process the mechanical
steering stops may need to be reset.
To achieve the required maximum steering
angles, first adjust the front axle left and
right-hand stop bolts. Proceed as follows:
1. Park vehicle on level surface and chock
rear wheels.
2. Raise the vehicle and place jack stands
under the front axle. Tire must clear the
ground and be free to turn fully left and
right.
3. Loosen mechanical stops on axle and
screw them in all the way.
☞NOTE:
All gap measurements must be made with
20 to 30 lb. force applied to the steering
wheel. This force will maintain the angle of
the wheel in the turn.
4. Steer wheels to the right and measure the
distance from the tire to the drag link. See
“Fig. 1: Tire to Drag Link Clearance” on
page 3. Alternately measure from the the
center link to the axle housing. See “Fig. 2:
Center Link to Axle Housing Clearance” on
page 3. The smallest allowable gap is 3/8″.
5. Adjust axle stop until it just contacts the
axle. Torque the lock nut 50 ± 5 ft-lb. (68 ±
7 Nm).
6. Steer wheels to the left and measure the
distance from the tire to the steering
damper. Alternately measure from the center
link to the axle housing. The smallest
allowable gap is 3/8″.
7. Adjust axle stop until it just contacts the
axle. Torque the lock nut 50 ± 5 ft-lb. (68 ±
7 Nm).
8. Reset the automatic plungers. Refer to
2.1.2. “Automatic Plunger Adjustment (35,
40 & 60 ft.)” on page 5 in this section for
reset procedure.
SMB-138B 3 of 6
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-138B
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
Fig. 1: Tire to Drag Link Clearance
Fig. 2: Center Link to Axle Housing Clearance
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4 of 6 SMB-138B
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-138B
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
2. Wheel Alignment
Adjustments (60 ft.)
2.1. Steering Stops
The travel of the steering system is limited
by mechanical stops on the steering
knuckle and a hydraulic relief setting within
the power steering gear.
❒ The mechanical stops on the steering
knuckle provide a safe minimum clearance
between the tire and the chassis.
❒ The hydraulic power steering relief provides
a means of relieving hydraulic pressure
prior to contacting the mechanical
steering stop and determines the maximum
usable wheel cut or steering angle.
Hydraulic relief is provided by automatic
relief valve plungers located in the bearing
cap and cylinder head.
2.1.1. Mechanical Steering Stop Adjustment
The mechanical steering stops are factory
preset on an articulated vehicle to provide
an acceptable turning radius while at the
same time protecting the articulating joint
from exceeding a safe turning angle.
The mechanical steering stops should be
checked prior to performing a wheel alignment,
and if not within specification,
adjusted as follows:
1. Set up the vehicle on wheel alignment
machine, with full weight on the front axle.
2. Locate the steering stop on the curbside
steering knuckle and loosen the lock nut.
Screw in the stop bolt.
3. Turn the wheel to the right until 39° steering
angle is reached.
4. Screw out the steering stop bolt until it contacts
the axle beam.
5. Visually confirm that a minimum clearance
of 3/8″ exists between tire and any chassis,
suspension, or steering component. Check
tire clearance on both sides of vehicle.
6. Torque the lock nut on steering stop bolt to
50 ± 5 ft-lb. (68 ± 7 Nm).
7. Repeat the above process on streetside
wheel, except turn the wheel to the left to
achieve the 39° turn angle. Check tire
clearance on both sides of vehicle.
8. Reset the automatic plungers. Refer to
2.1.2. “Automatic Plunger Adjustment (35,
40 & 60 ft.)” on page 5 in this section for
reset procedure.
SMB-138B 5 of 6
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-138B
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
2.1.2. Automatic Plunger Adjustment (35, 40 &
60 ft.)
The automatic plungers are preset at the
factory and do not require adjustment
unless the mechanical steering stop setting
has changed. Reset the automatic
plungers as follows:
1. Park the vehicle on level ground, set the
parking brake, and chock the rear wheels.
2. Raise the front axle until the tires clear the
ground. Refer to the General Information
section of this manual for further information
on the jacking procedure.
3. Remove the plastic cap from both steering
gear plungers.
Carefully insert the tools into the bore
to ensure the bore is not damaged during
bottoming of plungers. DO NOT use
a screwdriver to perform this procedure.
DO NOT use excessive force
when seating the plunger.
4. Carefully insert a Punch (Item 1 from the
Special Tools List) into the front plunger
hole and use a mallet to drive in the
plunger until the tool bottoms out against
the housing. See “Fig. 3: Special Tools” on
page 6.
5. Carefully insert Adjustment Tool (Item 2
from the Special Tools List) into the rear
plunger hole and drive in the plunger until
the bolt bottoms in the tool.
6. Start the vehicle and slowly turn the
wheels fully left with the tires still off the
ground. Continue turning the wheel until
the mechanical stop is reached. This will
reset the automatic plunger.
7. Repeat the previous step, except turn the
wheel fully right.
8. Return the wheels to the straight ahead
position.
9. Shut off the engine and lower the vehicle.
10.Remove chocks from rear wheels.
6 of 6 SMB-138B
SERVICE MANUAL BULLETIN
SMB-138B
The New Flyer vehicles described in this manual may be protected by one or more
patents and design applications or registrations in the United States and Canada,
and in other countries. Refer to “Vehicle Patent Information” in this manual.
Copyright © 2016 New Flyer Industries Canada ULC
3. Steering System Special
Tools
3.1. Steering System Special Tools
Chart
The following special tools are referenced
in the automatic plunger adjustment procedure
in this section. See “Fig. 3: Special
Tools” on page 6. Refer to your New Flyer
Parts Manual for purchase part numbers.
Fig. 3: Special Tools
SPECIAL TOOL DESCRIPTION
1 Punch, Steering Pressure Relief
2 Adjustment Tool, Steering Pressure Relief
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