PV steering

[arcturus]

Hi, I am finding that with my PV , the steering, on the road, tightens up as the bends get sharper, going round roundabouts etc. Is this a common trait with PV's or should I be looking at the steering geometry? With the front jacked up of the ground there is no problem.

[SwallownAmazon]

Tightens up or gets heavier? There is a difference.
My Amazon's steering is deperately heavy when turning through a greater angle but.... I have a 14" diameter steering wheel so I don't crush my fingers on the front roll cage, wider wheels and 185 section tyres and the castor angle has been increased to give better turn - in when cornering.
I just live with it but the memsahib can't drive it because she isn't strong enough to turn the wheel!!

[arcturus]

Probably heavier. I may just need stronger arms and shoulders.

[Derek UK]

Having correct alignment is always a good start, less variables that way. What are the tyres like? I think you have white walls and they aren't usually particularly high tech. i.e. they don't steer, grip, ride etc like a good modern tyre. What pressures are you running?

[arcturus]

21 psi front 24psi rear. Might try a couple of pounds extra in front.

[Derek UK]

I don't know PV pressures but Amazon owners tend to run around 30-32psi. Certainly quite a bit above the original hand book pressures. Other PV owners need to pipe up here.
If you do have the expensive whitewalls mentioned, maybe consider a cheaper but better set of tyres on another set of wheels for your "rally" jaunts. Any Amazon wheels, either solid or slotted, work fine on the PV.

[Ron Kwas]

Arcturus;

I would very much agree with Derek...the low twenties seems quite low indeed...rolling resistance increases as pressure drops (but maybe not so noticeably)...I would expect steering effort to also increase, but this noticeably with scrub angle. If they are radial construction tires (even if bias ply), I'd bring them up to 32PSI and take a test drive...I expect you'll notice a marked improvement.

Cheers

[arcturus]

I think that I will increase the pressures in increments of 2/3 lbs and see if it makes much difference rather than one big increase. That way I should find the optimum pressure.

[Ponvanman]

I run 32 psi all round on my PV, seems to be ok.

[mocambique-amazone]

Whoch size of tyres and rims to you run on your PV Arcturus?
21 24 psi is never enough if you won't use the old s h i t y diagonal tyres. 5.60x15 would be the size. 32psi or 2.2bar all around is ok at a starting point. Regards, Kay