Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

[Jim S.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Thank you Joe & Jim Shea for the clarification.
Based on the fact that Saginaw provided the steering gear with the rag coupler attached and that Saginaw painted the steering gear, while not with the longest lasting paint, one can surmise that the rag coupler received a coat of black paint at the same time. The only item not painted would then be the bolt inserted by St. Louis to attach the coupler to the column.

[Harry S.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Thank you Joe & Jim Shea for the clarification.
Based on the fact that Saginaw provided the steering gear with the rag coupler attached and that Saginaw painted the steering gear, while not with the longest lasting paint, one can surmise that the rag coupler received a coat of black paint at the same time. The only item not painted would then be the bolt inserted by St. Louis to attach the coupler to the column.

I do believe the lower half of the joint was put on Saginaw and the upper half at the plant. That is why you can have two different head marks on the bolts.

[Jim S.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

I do believe the lower half of the joint was put on Saginaw and the upper half at the plant. That is why you can have two different head marks on the bolts.

Harry, I was of that opinion also but the post by John Hinckley, "The photos in post #17 show the correct installation - the entire rag joint/coupler assembly came as part of the steering gear, with the nuts facing the steering gear and the safety pins facing the firewall." makes me question that.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Please allow me to ask this question again; For 1967 what parts of the rag joint were painted? If any?

Thanks

[John H.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

For 1967 what parts of the rag joint were painted? If any?

Ralph -

Depends on whether the steering gear was painted, as the rag joint came as part of the steering gear from Saginaw; steering gear assemblies came both ways, and either painted or unpainted is acceptable.

[Timothy B.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Here is how I restored mine, the yellow dot was there and I don't believe the box on my car was ever painted. It was preserved in grease, this is the original rag joint, the car has 53000 miles.

Attached pics also show a NOS 5699250 rag joint I have, this joint has the mesh and not the copper strap for horn grounding.

[Jeff P.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

This is a great thread. I took my original rag joint off my 68 I'm restoring. The copper ground sticks out into the shaft so when applied it would be against column. Pictures below. I have not seen this before. I thought 67 and 68 rags were the same. All kits I see including L I C. Do not have this. Thanks, Jeff

[John H.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Please allow me to ask this question again; For 1967 what parts of the rag joint were painted? If any?

Thanks

Ralph -

See post #28. If the assembly was painted, the upper 12-point clamp bolt would NOT be painted, as it was added at St. Louis.

[Ralph E.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Ralph -

See post #28. If the assembly was painted, the upper 12-point clamp bolt would NOT be painted, as it was added at St. Louis.

Interesting! I would have expected the rag joint to be unpainted and installed during STL assembly. If it was painted was the steering gear box and rag joint painted on the car?

[Timothy B.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

This is a great thread. I took my original rag joint off my 68 I'm restoring. The copper ground sticks out into the shaft so when applied it would be against column. Pictures below. I have not seen this before. I thought 67 and 68 rags were the same. All kits I see including L I C. Do not have this. Thanks, Jeff

Jeff,

The copper strap is attached to a rivet during assembly then forms a semi circle around the shaft and is attached to one of the bolts holding the rag together (upper rag flange to the lower rag flange) when the flange is tightened to the steering column the copper strap becomes a ground path for the steering column to frame and then battery.

Looking at your pics, the strap may be broke, that's why Saginaw went to the mesh design.

[Jeff P.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Thanks for the explanation Tim.

[Jim S.]

Re: Paragon Rag Joint Repair Kit

Interesting! I would have expected the rag joint to be unpainted and installed during STL assembly. If it was painted was the steering gear box and rag joint painted on the car?

The steering gear box and rag joint was painted at Saginaw. The black paint used was not a high quality and could/would wear off sometimes exposing the yellow paint dab that was below the black paint on the steering box.