Spline repair

[Puglet1]

I have part of a steering column with male / female splines.
The male spline has some minor damage which is preventing the two parts to slide together.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to repair this?

 

[knighty]

run a sharp flat screw drive up and down it first, take off all the daft little bits etc.

might need to stand the screw driver on end and drag it sideways

it's surprising how much you'll be able to fix like that

then see what's left to fix and go from there.... I'd normally go with a cutting disk in the grinder but those splines look a bit fine... maybe cutting disk in a dremmel?

 

[brightspark]

could run a thread file along it if its nor too hard

 

[gaz1]

a slitting disk on a milling machine would do it

you can do the same with a home made arbor and a slitting disk as well

a drill press can also do the same if you fit the slitting disk into an arbor and slit it sideways

 

[bricol]

Don't look now - but I've used the edge of a small half-round file (as I didn't have a triangular one then) to clean the damaged area up in exactly that situation.

 

[Parm]

A well prepared but not too sharp cold chisel to “try” and persuade some it back into shape, then go with any of the afore mentioned filing suggestions. Only powered cutting would be with a fine disk in a dremmel type affair

 

[Seadog]

A riffler file if you happen to have one the right shape.

 

[Migmac]

A riffler file if you happen to have one the right shape.

Didn’t know those files were called rifflers, everyday is a learning day

 

[jsf55]

Knife edge needle file and patience

 

[dave h 2]

Bearing in mind it's only the steering, how on earth did that damage happen?

 

[Melvyn Best]

Needle file followed by some valve grinding paste to lap the splines

 

[Puglet1]

Thanks to All.
A set of riffles files and grinding paste on order.

 

[gaz1]

the other thing you could use is a multi tool

 

[dobbslc]

Bearing in mind it's only the steering, how on earth did that damage happen?

BFH.

 

[Morris]

BFH.

It's usually the solution not the problem.

 

[wyn]

Could always just grind the damaged part of the splines away.

 

[BrokenBiker]

Thin disc in a die grinder would be my approach, nice gentle touch and should be good in no time

 

[Smallfry]

It's usually the solution not the problem.

I find it that it sometimes cures the current problem, but causes an even bigger problem somewhat later.

Usually also causing feelings of regret .......

 

[Puglet1]

Bearing in mind it's only the steering, how on earth did that damage happen?

It was in an electric power steering kit that I bought over 2 years ago and have just unboxed it to fit it. It was bubble wrapped so the damage must’ve occurred before the supplier shipped it.

 

[dave h 2]

The splines are probably for steering height adjustment??
I would be using the knife edge/blade file as jsf55 suggests as if you, like me haven't got the calibrated arms of a plasma cutter god that can cut freehand dead straight lines your chances not cocking the splines with any free hand grinder are remote.

If you overcook the grinder and make the splines sloppy, knock knock = fail fail on the MOT