Re: Lark VIII Pivot Shaft Removal
Question: Do you have the long hex bolt removed from the swivel Bracket? The one that goes all the way through and holds the pivot shaft stationary as you steer back and forth?
Question #2: Or was the bolt missing and worse yet broken off?
Question # 3: Do you have the retainer ring removed from the bottom end of the pivot shaft? I'm guessing you don't.
The way it is all supposed to work is the pivot shaft does not move when steering and the lower front cover swivels back on forth on the pivot shaft. There are large nylon bushings in the front cover for this purpose. Sometimes the cover would corrode around the nylon bushings squeezing them tight onto the pivot shaft and making it hard to steer. So, people would remove the mentioned hex bolt and let the whole pivot shaft turn back and forth, making it easy to steer again.
With the hex bolt removed (and co-pilot clamp and the retainer ring) the pivot shaft should pull out fairly easy. If it won't, it is either stuck in the nylon bushings, or it is stuck in the swivel bracket, or the bolt is broken off in there, and the pivot shaft is hung up on the bolt.
If I remember correctly (I hope) you can bump it out from the bottom with a hammer and stick of wood.
