Series Steering Improvements?

This forum is a bit like have a chat with a few mates in the pub, the conversation moves off topic. People like to chip in. You would find it even more frustrating if nobody replies because they don't think they can be 100% helpful. I've read back through all the posts and most are relevant.

COL

FirstLW said:

There seems to be an unwritten rule of these forums that the longer a thread runs the more people think its OK to add completely irrelevant comments. So I've had 3 helpful responses, for which I'm grateful, but another ten which are either completely unhelpful, or irrelevant. If you just want to chat that's fine, use a chat room, but please don't clutter up forums like this. It makes finding information a bit of a needle in a haystack job.

Click to expand...

Basically once you go past answer number 5 all the threads on lz go off track.
It is one of the many things I like about the place.

S1s have the s1 forum
S2s have the s2 forum, which is very good, and lots of s3 owners go on there for advice.
S3s are sadly in the grey area between s2 and 90/110, people are slowly getting into them, but they have been pretty much unloved for decades, hence there does not seem to be a dedicated forum for them.

I think this forum is for S3 LRs
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...Vaw3NTjgjE5xVvHlQdgtyoaqF&cshid=1608626424854

nathanglasgow said:

I think this forum is for S3 LRs
https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&s...Vaw3NTjgjE5xVvHlQdgtyoaqF&cshid=1608626424854

Click to expand...

Looks real busy! same as some of the dedicated car model forums, almost ghost towns.

FirstLW said:

There seems to be an unwritten rule of these forums that the longer a thread runs the more people think its OK to add completely irrelevant comments. So I've had 3 helpful responses, for which I'm grateful, but another ten which are either completely unhelpful, or irrelevant. If you just want to chat that's fine, use a chat room, but please don't clutter up forums like this. It makes finding information a bit of a needle in a haystack job.

Click to expand...

You are unlikly to win friends and receive helpful answers with responses like that. Although the answer may not be 100% relevant to you specific question they do serve the purpose of keeping the thread live and at the top of the page so others can see it and then give other answers. As pointed out some of the more model specific forums are not very active, I have the same problem with my fordson tractor, I get more helpful responses on here than I do on the marque specific forum.
Further to your original question though I would agree with the first response that you has, the best solution for series steering is the original setup, original wheels and tyres, and everything services and in good condition. On top of this you then drive it like a series vehicle rather than a modern car and you should not have an issue or have any requirements for powersteering/dampers etc. as the setup is as it was designd and works very well for the job it is supposed to do. It is only when compared to modern standards it falls short, it was designed '40's and has remained unchanged since.

Well said dag019, The series system is fine if used and maintained as intended.
P.S. I learned to drive on a Fordson Major as soon as my legs could reach the pedals.

tottot said:

Well said dag019, The series system is fine if used and maintained as intended.
P.S. I learned to drive on a Fordson Major as soon as my legs could reach the pedals.

Click to expand...

I am currently nearing the end of the (mostly) rolling restoration of a very early super major (link)

Thanks for the link to your interesting thread, How I missed out on it I don't know.

FirstLW said:

There seems to be an unwritten rule of these forums that the longer a thread runs the more people think its OK to add completely irrelevant comments. So I've had 3 helpful responses, for which I'm grateful, but another ten which are either completely unhelpful, or irrelevant. If you just want to chat that's fine, use a chat room, but please don't clutter up forums like this. It makes finding information a bit of a needle in a haystack job.

Click to expand...

How very inconvenient.

I thought this thread was about steering, now someone has posted about threads getting too long, I'm confused.

So. What's everyone getting for Christmas?

To the OP - there's a reason why these threads need to ramble for a bit - gives people like me a chance to see them as we don't get to the desk most days, and then we can occasionally chuck in something (maybe) useful later. On the original question, I have just changed to new tyres and went with the original spec Avon Rangemaster 750 x 16. (ATS can still get them and price wasn't bad). It has made a noticeable difference to how my S3 steers, in weight and more impressively in line stability. Vehicle now seems to wander less and steering feels more "direct". Also a bit easier for slow manoeuvring but still glad I have the original size steering wheel. Had a mix of tyres on before from different manufacturers (1 Michelin, 2 ancient Avons and one other I cant remember) but all the same 750 x 16 size - incidentally, was surprised how much variation there was in tyre height between these three types when stood side by side off the vehicle, although all same stated size. All the best..Ian

Moorhouse2 said:

To the OP - there's a reason why these threads need to ramble for a bit - gives people like me a chance to see them as we don't get to the desk most days, and then we can occasionally chuck in something (maybe) useful later. On the original question, I have just changed to new tyres and went with the original spec Avon Rangemaster 750 x 16. (ATS can still get them and price wasn't bad). It has made a noticeable difference to how my S3 steers, in weight and more impressively in line stability. Vehicle now seems to wander less and steering feels more "direct". Also a bit easier for slow manoeuvring but still glad I have the original size steering wheel. Had a mix of tyres on before from different manufacturers (1 Michelin, 2 ancient Avons and one other I cant remember) but all the same 750 x 16 size - incidentally, was surprised how much variation there was in tyre height between these three types when stood side by side off the vehicle, although all same stated size. All the best..Ian

Click to expand...

I think the size difference is because early 7.50 size meant 7.50 width AND height, whereas later tyres that only state width are normally 80 percent of the width in height.

The main thing for the op to learn here is, big wide tyres look silly on series motors, oh yeh and dont tell the whole of LZ what they should and should not do!

Why don’t we just start a new thread. ‘Improving your Series’.
There would only be one answer needed. Replace with a Toyota. That way people who actually like the series could overlook it and continue to enjoy its agricultural simplicity and old vehicle technology rather than turning them into Toyotas.

On your point that the tyres of the same size vary in height a lot, exactly my experience, I was vey surprised that that 235/85s seem to vary by at least an inch on dia. No way could you mix on an axle and not get serious problems.
On the steering issue - I set the shims on my steering box, It can be done on the vehicle, its mades a big difference. You only have to do the bottom plate on the steering worm. The settings are in the manual.

Bobsticle said:

Why don’t we just start a new thread. ‘Improving your Series’.
There would only be one answer needed. Replace with a Toyota. That way people who actually like the series could overlook it and continue to enjoy its agricultural simplicity and old vehicle technology rather than turning them into Toyotas.

Click to expand...

Or have both . The Series One to take up valuable space in the shed and the Hilux to get things done !