steering wheel hight

[Bob Gil]

My bus does not seam to have the original steering column in it.  It is a 1968 but the steering column that is in it has the dimmer switch in the turn signal switch, and controls for the wipers in it also.  But there are switches that control the wipers on the panel to the right of the driver.

Back to the problem The column that is in it has the wheel tilt (looks like it is from a car) and the tilt is busted and when you start pulling on the steering wheel it will pop and the wheel will tilt making it awkward to turn.  I have a man coming to fix the wheel but I got to looking at it and it seams a little high 38 inches ad the sides from the floor and 34 inches at the part closest to the driver.  I don't want to have this one fixed if I should get a shorter one to replace it with.  Can you-all tell me what the height is on your bus at the side of the wheel to the floor?

[Tom Y]

Bob, I still don't have my wheel on yet. But if the tilt is broke it may be a good idea to change out. I have one from a Gilig w/ tilt and maybe extend on it. The wheel is junk and the horn button is bad. If you want it you could have for shipping. Its going to scrap soon. I'll have to look maybe the wheel got thrown.   Tom Y

[Tom Y]

Bob, About the height. It depends how high your seat is and how tall you are. Make it comfortable for you. Tom Y

[Bob Gil]

Yes I do understand it depends how high your seat is and how tall you are.

But then I feel like this one is about 5 inches too high and wanted to see how  high others before I changed this one too much.  I think there should be a normal hight to it.

I came in the house and set in a adjustable hight chair, with my feet (soles flat) on the floor.  I took the mesuring tape and steerting wheel seams to be about 4 inches too high. And is not quite right some how, I am not sure but it feels uncofatorble.  I was trying to get some feed back on the high and see if there was a standard.  I would hate to change it out and then have a problem and some one else have a difacult time driving my bus.  Or make it some thing that would come up as a problem later on.

[lostagain]

Speaking of ergonomics, your knees should be higher than your hips, with good thigh support. This helps a lot to avoid the pain behind the shoulder blades. This is why you see some truckers and bus drivers sitting low. The wheel is better high than too low. Of course, if you have a clutch, you need room for your knee under the wheel. Adjusted right, I can drive all day and night. Wrong and I'll be hurting in a couple of hours.

JC

[Bob Gil]

The way this wheel is if I were to have my knees higher than my hips the steering wheel would be about shoulder height, above arm pit height.

That don't sound good?

[Ncbob]

Bob, my MC5 steering is 34 1/2" from the floor at the 3 o'clock point. Have you checked to see it yours is a telescoping wheel? 38" seems awfully high. You might ask some of the GM guys for the dimension from their wheel to the dash panel at the 12 o'clock point. That would tell you something I can't answer.

Some of the MCI guys have changed to the Freightliner tilt wheels with great success. I would have at one time but I have an Eagle air ride seat which is adjustable with about a 5" vertical stroke. I find that I lower the seat when a lot of clutching is needed and raise it for highway driving. It's like sitting on a cloud. Oh, when I installed it I needed a 2" oak block under the base to get it to the parameters I felt were comfortable for me.

Also I changed from the 22" steering wheel to an 18" custom wheel. What a difference.

Good Luck.

NCbob

[Runcutter]

Bob, I'm just northwest of Dallas, in Carrollton.  Let me know if you want to come over and look at my 4107, take measurements, etc.  She's set up with the original driver's seat, steering wheel, etc.  I used to spend 9-12 hours a day in similar coaches, with no problems - long before the word "ergonomics" was in use.

I'm in town this week, and probably next - PM or email me (  runcutter@runcutter.com  ) - and I can send you my phone number.  I'm tied up Tuesday, but generally available otherwise.

Arthur   

[Bob Gil]

thanks runcutter I sent you an e-mail just now.

I did not think about the clock as ref in that though mine would be 34 in at 6,  38 1/2 at 3 & 9 and about 42 3/4 at the 12.  With the dash it is hard to measure that one.

no telescoping wheel.