Spartan K3 steering play

[redbaron73]

I have a 2022 London Aire. My steering wheel had a lot of slop. It is actually worse than my 2020 Jeep wrangler, which I thought had too much.

The slop allows me to move the steering wheel left and right for approx 2" of movement without making a difference in the actual steering.

This is not a comfort drive issue. I have a lot of experience with comfort drive. If CD does anything, it exposes the flaws in a bell housing for the steering.

Is this normal for Spartan steering or should I escalate this as a problem?

[wolfe10]

What steering box?


Have you checked steering linkage for play (steering wheel all the way to the right front wheel?

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by wolfe10

What steering box?


Have you checked steering linkage for play (steering wheel all the way to the right front wheel?

No idea what Spartan installs on the Newmar spec K3.

NIRVC inspected it during my PDI and said it was within spec.

If this is normal for Spartan, then I will look for aftermarket solutions.

[Bobby Dowdle]

Please provide me with your coach information. Monday I will email spartan about your issue. There is software for the comfort drive which require having spartan to send the program module to a dealership. There are also the connections at the steering box. You can send me your information in a private message. I will attach your post to the email and see if we need to get the coach back to NIRVC for further diagnosis. Thanks.

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by Bobby Dowdle

Please provide me with your coach information. Monday I will email spartan about your issue. There is software for the comfort drive which require having spartan to send the program module to a dealership. There are also the connections at the steering box. You can send me your information in a private message. I will attach your post to the email and see if we need to get the coach back to NIRVC for further diagnosis. Thanks.

Thank you. To be fair, I do have a number of open items to be worked on when I return June 1. Some of this effort may already be underway, as I am not certain of the status of that particular item.

I sent you a pm.

[Bobby Dowdle]

Thanks. I’ll let you know as soon as I get a response.

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by Bobby Dowdle

Thanks. I’ll let you know as soon as I get a response.

I just looked over my paperwork and it appears as though I did not explicitly call out this problem with my advisor.

I stated "steering wheel not centered" and failed to elaborate.

As great of a guy that Sean is, I am positive he was not going to read my mind to elaborate into the complaint about steering slop.

This is a case where I failed to provide enough information, so it is safe to say the techs didn't look into this issue.

I appreciate you getting this started and I will send Sean an email to add to his list.

[AZRVR17]

I don’t have any play in my steering. I would put it on your punch list

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by AZRVR17

I don’t have any play in my steering. I would put it on your punch list

Good to know. Thanks!

[DS15]

Originally Posted by redbaron73

I have a 2022 London Aire. My steering wheel had a lot of slop. It is actually worse than my 2020 Jeep wrangler, which I thought had too much.

The slop allows me to move the steering wheel left and right for approx 2" of movement without making a difference in the actual steering.

This is not a comfort drive issue. I have a lot of experience with comfort drive. If CD does anything, it exposes the flaws in a bell housing for the steering.

Is this normal for Spartan steering or should I escalate this as a problem?

We have a K2 on a 2020 Dutch Star 4081. Same issue, 2 inches of play. When we were at Charlotte, MI at Spartan for a warranty issue, the Spartan Tech solved our issue by tightening the slack adjustment nut on top of the steering gearbox. It is the same type deal that we had on a Jeep steering gearbox. Tech said that it was not properly adjusted from the vendor. Once adjusted, no play. Still no play to this day and Comfort Steer works great. Don’t know if the K3 chassis gearbox is setup the same way or not, I would bet it is. Nothing against NIRVC, we had them look at it and was not aware of the gearbox adjustment.

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by DS15

We have a K2 on a 2020 Dutch Star 4081. Same issue, 2 inches of play. When we were at Charlotte, MI at Spartan for a warranty issue, the Spartan Tech solved our issue by tightening the slack adjustment nut on top of the steering gearbox. It is the same type deal that we had on a Jeep steering gearbox. Tech said that it was not properly adjusted from the vendor. Once adjusted, no play. Still no play to this day and Comfort Steer works great. Don’t know if the K3 chassis gearbox is setup the same way or not, I would bet it is. Nothing against NIRVC, we had them look at it and was not aware of the gearbox adjustment.

That's for that confirmation. Larry (LWBAZ) called me to suggest the same thing. He dealt with it on his K3 cornerstone. There are 2 steering gear boxes on the Reyco Granning 20k steer axles, and both need to be adjusted.

[Granite17]

Sounds like it needs adjusting.
I like a heavy wheel and usually run the comfort drive at 5 on the highway and I don’t have any play.

[redbaron73]

Originally Posted by Granite17

Sounds like it needs adjusting.
I like a heavy wheel and usually run the comfort drive at 5 on the highway and I don’t have any play.

Had mine at 6 when testing the play. I think Larry is on to something with the lashing adjustment.

NIRVC has already responded to me via email, confirming its on the list for my June appointment.

I am just glad others have confirmed that this is not by design.

[Bobby Dowdle]

I have heard back from spartan. They have some test that need to be performed to determine if it’s an alignment issue, software issue or steering gear issue. All information has been sent to your advisor in Dallas and will be available when you arrive for your appointment.