PD 4104 won't turn left. Turns right fine.

[siberyd]

Received this email, anyone have an idea?

Hello everyone, I recently purchased a GM PD4104 (1958) I'm having steering issues with. Looks like the Drag Link is bent but not 100% sure. But the issue is it won't turn left. It turns right and straightens back out. It just doesn't go left past centered. I just drove it about 60 miles and it was fine. Parked it for a week and now it has this issue. 
I'm in San Bernardino CA. Anyone with any knowledge of what caused this would be much appreciated. Or if anyone knows a good mechanic in my area ? That would also help. 
Thanks in advance

[luvrbus]

They have a valve in the end of the drag link if it is a power assist sometime the button breaks and won't engage,sounds like it is a valve problem turning to the right and not to the left

good luck

[HB of CJ]

Just move to a Blue State.  Or is it Red?  Dunno.  At any rate, consider getting your Bus Conversion out of CA.  That might work.

[Lin]

I was very happy with work done for me by United Transmission in San Bernardino.  Although this is probably not something they deal with, they should know of anyone in the area that could.  I believe the service manager I dealt with was named Adrian. 909 527-1637

[siberyd]

Thanks everyone,  I will pass on the information.

Siberyd

[zimmysurprise]

Okay I'll say it... I guess NASCAR is out.

[Kevin]

Hey Jon,

I suppose you've had a look underneath to see if something mechanical came loose and is interfering with the steering gear? Is it power assist steering? What happens if you really crank on it in either direction with the engine off? If power assisted, they steering wheel WILL turn with the engine off, but it's a bear.

[siberyd]

Kevin,

I don't know the answer but will ask him tomorrow.

Siberyd

[bigred]

Put a little something extra in offering plate this weekend and thank the Man above that  this didn't happen during your 60 mile drive!!!

[dcburd]

Greetings: Perhaps one of the valve orifices is jammed on the "apply side" of the Shepard assist ram. Removing hydraulic supply and return lines from the ram and catching purge oil for possible debris as well as watching the extension and retraction cycle of the ram would probably rule something out quickly. Here in SLC I found two hydraulic shops that can manufacture hydraulic parts on sight and attack one of those old Sheppards. Florida is certainly a nice place on the weather map. Good Luck!             

[eagle19952]

Has this issue been solved...

[siberyd]

Yes, towed it to a local truck repair and got it fixed.

Siberyd

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Ok now, we are all sitting on the edge of our seats.  What was the problem in case anyone else runs in to this problem?

This would bother me if this happened to me as I tend to take as many left hand turns as possible so I have more of a swing area.  

BTW, did you try to put a rope out the passenger side window and try pulling on the rope when you wanted to turn left?  It works well for windshield wipers at least to get you home so you can buy a new wiper motor or tighten up the Castle nut  

[siberyd]

Gary,

Rope trick wouldn't work, sides of bus kept slicing off on each pull.

Seriously,  somehow the drag link got bent. Speculation is a rock in the roadway in the snow. Bus towed to Colton. Shop replaced the damaged drag link and he is on the road again. I believe they are out toward Ojai living the dream.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Thanks for the update Jon.  Causes and solution to problems are definitely a huge help to those of us who learn from others mishaps.  Now we know what to look for before we run that rope out the window. 

Moral of the story, always carry a Smoke Wrench with you even if you have to carry small tanks because you may have been able to straighten this out good enuf with a little heat and a pry bar to limp along home.