Hi, on the S I the steering wheel is adjustable for a bit of height
adjustment (rake) as well as reach as was pointed out in a recent post
regarding tall people and XKEs. However this is usually a one time
adjustment and then you crank the nut down to forever hold it at that
position.
What has not been pointed, AFAIK, out is that if you replace the nut
(and the bolt) that holds that rake adjustment bolt in place with a
‘handled’ nut you can make that adjustment anytime you care to easily
for a bit better entry and exit room.
I found just such a ‘handled’ nut somewhere (apologies for my dodgy
memory - I think it came from an 80s Japanese car) years ago and used
a metric bolt and some generic washers to just cinch it in any
position I want. I can make this adjustment on the fly as it were, but
that’s not recommended. The handle I found had a proper thick-plastic
coated end for comfort and was articulated a bit for ease of use. I
think it performed the same function on the car it came from.
One can be made, of course, rather easily using a carriage bolt who’s
squared neck would fit into the angled adjustment slot and then with a
bit of brazing a nut cold be affixed to an appropriately bent piece of
shaped metal which was dressed, painted and dipped in liquid rubber
could be made to look and be very nice.
In use, you tighten it to just nearly snug at the far forward position
so it can be adjusted, then when it is at the height you want it, pull
the handle back to tighten it locking it at that point. Of course, if
you use a big ‘knob’ with blunt star-shaped grips instead of a handle,
then you will have more room to loosen it for easier adjustment - it’s
tight under there.
This is just another way of obtaining a bit of room so one can
preserve a soupçon of decorum while entering and exiting the cockpit.
YMMV.
Hi, on the S I the steering wheel is adjustable for a bit of height
adjustment (rake) as well as reach as was pointed out in a recent post
regarding tall people and XKEs. However this is usually a one time
adjustment and then you crank the nut down to forever hold it at that
position.
What has not been pointed, AFAIK, out is that if you replace the nut
(and the bolt) that holds that rake adjustment bolt in place with a
‘handled’ nut you can make that adjustment anytime you care to easily
for a bit better entry and exit room.
I found just such a ‘handled’ nut somewhere (apologies for my dodgy
memory - I think it came from an 80s Japanese car) years ago and used
a metric bolt and some generic washers to just cinch it in any
position I want. I can make this adjustment on the fly as it were, but
that’s not recommended. The handle I found had a proper thick-plastic
coated end for comfort and was articulated a bit for ease of use. I
think it performed the same function on the car it came from.
One can be made, of course, rather easily using a carriage bolt who’s
squared neck would fit into the angled adjustment slot and then with a
bit of brazing a nut cold be affixed to an appropriately bent piece of
shaped metal which was dressed, painted and dipped in liquid rubber
could be made to look and be very nice.
In use, you tighten it to just nearly snug at the far forward position
so it can be adjusted, then when it is at the height you want it, pull
the handle back to tighten it locking it at that point. Of course, if
you use a big ‘knob’ with blunt star-shaped grips instead of a handle,
then you will have more room to loosen it for easier adjustment - it’s
tight under there.
This is just another way of obtaining a bit of room so one can
preserve a soupçon of decorum while entering and exiting the cockpit.
YMMV.