Steering wheel fell off...

Dunno about that, but it's unusual IMO.

 

That's a great story but there is only a crown nut in the center of the steering wheel that holds it on. They did make alot of aftermarket things back in the day for Model T's like they make for our Tacoma's today all the steering wheels I have seen are still heald on by the center nut. Model T's are super small in the inside and hard to get in or out of so some folks might have left the nut of to remove the steering wheel to get in and out easier. They also would drain the oil at night and heat it on the woodstove in the morning so the motor would turn over easier. Also they would jack one side of rear axle up in the morning so that wheel would spin free so it was easier to start. I will do some steering wheel pics tomorrow for you, mmm we can figure out this cold case ! lol. That's a great story thou .

 

That's because the OP is @kuffer14...

 

Oops, ok thank you. I was trying to explain how they work. Btw, three pedals on the floor and none are the throttle, not fun to drive !!
Mike

 

They said to replace the entire column because the collapsible joint came apart, and they put it back together out of alignment. It looks like the mounting tabs are bent, probably from driving and adjusting the column with loose mounting hardware.
Loose hardware, you push the column forward, slip/collapse joint collapses, column drops off mounting hardware, you pull column while trying to adjust, column ends up in your lap.

 

The last few posts, including yours confused me... Are you speaking from personal experience? Or are you or are you in contact with the thread OP?

 

No. I can see in the picture that the mounting hardware is loose, the mount uses open slots with the opening towards the driver, the slip/collapse joint is separated, and the column is not where it is suppose to be.
Other option, story is BS and OP loosened the hardware, pushed the column forward, then yanked it backwards. Either way, an open slotted column mount is a piss poor idea in my mind.

 

Looking at the mechanical prints and I agree with you 100%.

 

Thanks for clarifying. I understand now.

 

Looking at the picture there are also parts missing... like the stop that prevents excessive movement.

There was another poster on here a while back that broke theirs the same way when they lost their temper and was beating on the steering wheel or something like that.

Here it is: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/what-fell-out-of-my-steering-column.389187/

 

OP glad you weren't driving. This should be fixed at no cost to you. Letters and copies everywhere like another poster said.

Had a steering wheel come off a 69 Mustang. Jammed it back on and drove to the Ford dealer a short distance away. Said I had a problem that needed to be fixed right away. Service writer or whatever they called them back then said I would have to get an appointment. Then asked what was wrong. I took the steering wheel from behind my back and said the steering wheel came off. Got immediate attention from just everyone in the shop. Ford recalled the Mustang a short time later.

 

Probably a case of road rage for the whole thing to come out.

 

starting to feel that way myself

I loosened my steering adjuster and whammed around on it a bit, doesn't
seem like it's gonna come out,

but if all there is, is a little metal tab holding it in,
I am never going to adjust it while driving.

 

Where are these two bolts located? Any pictures?

I wish to make sure mine are tight before something like this happens.

 

These Nuts ( not bolts ) do not hold the column tight. The column telescoping feature uses these nuts as a telescoping slide.

Look at this picture and you will see one of these nuts with a spacer behind it for the shaft to slide on:

 

First that's actually kind of frightening. This is kind of like cheap hot dogs, you don't really want to know what's inside. Second there are way too many nuts, bolts, and shafts in this thread.

 

Not really scary at all as long as you don't abuse the steering wheel in a fit of rage.

See the device the dude is holding in the picture is the stop device that prevents over traveling of the telescoping column. Don't break it and you will be fine.

 

Dude this happened to my buddy a few months ago, he had to get a new steering column. crazy shit