1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

[William H.]

Hello anyone have a picture of their 65-66 telescopic column installed into the rag joint? I took mine out and can't remember if the bolt goes across the flat on the shaft or across the small groove in the shaft which would put the shaft considerably farther into the Rag joint. I Should have took a picture first!
Thanks in advance
Bill

[Don H.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

I hope this helps.

[William H.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

Yes Thanks!

[Keith B.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

That looks to be the standard rag joint and not the tele only rag joint

[Jim D.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

Keith is correct. Notice the difference in the front half of the rag joint. Here's a pic. of the tele. rag joint on my 1 owner, low mile 65. I put reference marks on the shaft prior to dis-assembly.

[William H.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

Thanks again!
Still shows what I needed. I wasn't sure if the bolt went across the upper groove instead of the lower flat.
Another question is the U bolt on the standard column used on the tele column. There are not any real good pictures in the AIM for the Tele column installation.
Bill

[Don H.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

My car does have Tele, I never knew the rag joint was not correct. I plan to install a kit I have in it this winter. Don H.

[Gary R.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

If you look at Jim's picture you will see the rag is flat. The short side, or box input side, is located on the groove in the input shaft of the the box. There is no other place for it to go. The column has a D flat that is longer to allow ajustment to keep the rag flat. You can see there is enough room there with the rag flat that it is clamped tight. A example is with C3's - they have collapsible columns & many times the column is compressed without knowing it. The rag doesn't sit flat, it will have an S bend in it and that is not good.

[Don H.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

So if I understand correctly, the tele column rag joint is "shorter" than a regular one. I have had my car over 20 years and put many miles on it and the steering (with the tele column) has never been a problem. It appears that my upper shaft might not have the flat in the correct position in the rag joint (because it is "in" too far). Is that what you would guess? I was going to rebuild it this winter, I guess I need a correct one instead. Thanks for the help, Don H.

[Keith B.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

Yes the tele rag joint is unique to the 65/66 tele columns. They are shorter on the steering box side. LIC use to reproduce them but long since sold out and is no longer making them. So you have to source good used ones. They turn up for sale time to time.

[Steve G.]

Re: 1965 Tele Column How far does it go into the rag joint?

This is what a po had done on the one I'm currently working on to use the std column coupler on a tele column. The correct coupler is discontinued in reproduction and difficult to find used. I used a repro lower portion listed for 67 std column and attached it to the upper std coupler. Have to redrill one of the bolt holes to 3/8".