If your box is sound and the wheel is tight the play must be at 1 side of the doughnut, to find it properly you need someone to sit in it rocking the wheel while you get dirty looking and feeling for where it's moving.

I got the steering box from buggy Pete, so I have no reason to doubt the quality of the box.
All sections of the coupling pre and post the doughnut are twisting at the same time. So I am wondering if the play is in the actual box. The spigot that the column connects to on the box is moving happily with the balance of the column and the doughnut connections....
The connections on either side of the doughnut and the doughnut it's self are all new.

Are there any adjustments of play on the box itself ?

Hi mate ...there is an adjustment you can do on the box. There is a grub screw with a locknut on the top....undo the lock nut first, turn your steering wheel to full lock one side..... Screw in the grub screw till it goes firm (donot over tighten this) back it off a 1/4 turn and tighten locknut, turn your steering lock to lock a few times checking for tight spots. Centre your steering and check if play is reduced.

Hi mate ...there is an adjustment you can do on the box. There is a grub screw with a locknut on the top....undo the lock nut first, turn your steering wheel to full lock one side..... Screw in the grub screw till it goes firm (donot over tighten this) back it off a 1/4 turn and tighten locknut, turn your steering lock to lock a few times checking for tight spots. Centre your steering and check if play is reduced.

Thank shaggy, will investigate...........
Jazzy rushes off to man cave again........ 

Sunday update, the last day I will be working on the yellow peril, until I come back from Brazil......
So, adjusted steering geometry. The wheels now go in the same direction.
Not been able to reduce the play in steering YET, but not given up yet.
Filled with fuel and adjusted spiyder box.
No fuel leaks or breather problems.
Dumped coil overs off and put some standard Boge dampers on the back, it has dropped the back end a bit but wheel geometry at the back is much better.
Will upload a pick when I can.
Threw it down the road a bit and it feels good (apart from play in steering)
No petrol smells even with a full tank.

Will take some pics and post up..... It's a lovely buggy with little tweeks left to do. Ready for my return from Brazil and a seriously good blast around the country to shows and fun runs.

Thanks again for all the assistance during the period of the build, you guys and girls are the best.
Onwards for blast around the lanes around me.

not posted in here for a while, so thought would drop a line or two.

Post swanage decided to fit the new steering box, that I had in stock.
Fiddly to say the least but got it there.
Made sure all bolts locked up nice and tight.....!!!

Test drive done.... flipping heck what a difference that has made. Its like driving a new car. Very little play, no more than you would expect. need to hang on to it in the lanes where the roads are not surfaced well.
Think I might drop my tyre pressures a little further and see if that helps the new tyres on the road...

Got a list of little jobs to do for the MOT later this week::
Wipers - get them running.
Washers - need a switch or plunger button for them to work.
extra bolts for seats, so they do not wobble.
Balance rear brakes up.
Adjust handbrake a little further.

Then once done.... see what the MOT bloke has to say.   

Have you kept the steering box that you swapped out.

Have you kept the steering box that you swapped out.

Yes I have its in the garage.... why..?

Wondering what has worn out on it. Had one a long time a go that was slack. Wouldn't adjust. So took it to bits and found the bearings were shot. Got new bearings from SKF and put it back together. And worked fine for years

Wondering what has worn out on it. Had one a long time a go that was slack. Wouldn't adjust. So took it to bits and found the bearings were shot. Got new bearings from SKF and put it back together. And worked fine for years

To be honest, I would not know wear to start with it.
If you want it at some stage and have a look, you are more than welcome.

Further fiddling today?
Wipers now working.
Washer jets now working with new momentary switch.
Rear brakes adjusted, did not need much...
Hand brake adjusted, two notches and tight.
All lights checked, new foot switch for high beam fitted....

MOT booked for 08:00 tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed...

So my buggy failed the MOT.
Headlights not aligned correctly.
Side light not working

Lateral movement in the steering column.

Advisory. Handbrake a little soft on nearside...

So headlights and sidelight sorted, although I don't have any clue as to where the headlights should sit, but have adjusted them up, per the fail notice.

I have made a plate that uses the steering column grommet for the outer tube to run through.
Bolted to inner of fire wall. Now the column does not move vertically or laterally.

Retest booked for 10am Friday.....

sorrry forgot to update, post the forior of the buggy passing MOT at second attempt.

MOT chappie gave me a spanner to adjust my headlights lol

That is good news

For info headlights are measured to the centre of the light from the ground this height is marked on a wall or flat surface about  6 ft from the front of the buggy with it square to the wall and the flat top of the dipped beam is set 4 to 6 inches below the marks, side to side is guess work with line of sight but you can get them close without a VOSA approved beam setter, but the days of setting to low are out as that is a failure these days.

MOT chappie gave me a spanner to adjust my headlights lol

Great to see common sense making a come back

MOT chappie gave me a spanner to adjust my headlights lol

Great to see common sense making a come back

It was interesting to see the change in attitude of the guys at this station. I took it there last year and the main MOT chap did not like the buggy at all. Especially my Empi stinger exhaust, fitted at that time.

This year, I had a big welcoming grin from him and he was quite chatty about it. he saw that it had changed a lot since its last MOT.
He was quite interested in the amount of work gone into the re-build etc
It was refreshing.