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landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5666

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver

Optimill QR boss cover

Have bought and fitted the steering wheel QR and also the cover, I’m now ranting obscenities trying to get the cover located on the boss. This is due to it not lining up, not bad manufacture.

I don’t, and don’t want to, park with the steering wheels in the straight forward position. When putting the wheel on it’s easy. Pull the plugs, put on boss, turn wheel and it will locate and drop on to the pins. I had hoped that the boss cover would not spin as two parts when in the unlock setting, but apparently it still does. So it takes ages and much annoyance to use it.

So is there a trick I’m missing, am I an idiot, or are all users struggling with it. It’s so fiddly I will probably stop using it unless someone can educate me.

Any input welcome.

Click image to enlarge

24th Dec 2021 6:02pm

MichaelE

Member Since: 18 Jan 2020
Location: Crawley West Sussex
Posts: 155

Here's the easy way to fix it. It comes direct from Optimill when I took them to task at the LROI Peterborough show in September on this very issue. I bit in to them and wouldn't let it go.

Get a piece of slightly flexible plastic, maybe around 2ins x 1in. Dimensions are entirely at your discretion. Thickness - enough to squeeze in between the 2 rotating sections. Tight enough to stop the rotation but not tight enough to be able to steer with it i.e it will slip when you attempt to do so. Leave a little standing proud so that you can run a bead of silicone to hold it in place on one side. Job done. It works.

I also put an indicator mark on the orange exterior to locate the offset pin.

24th Dec 2021 6:48pm

bodstruck

Member Since: 09 May 2020
Location: Wiltshire
Posts: 904

By it's very nature it needs to be a bit spinny

I just roughly line it up (the pins are not equally spaced so easy enough to see which way is 'up'), slip it on then using one of my fingers behind it to hold the two parts together turn it slightly until it drops into place. Never been a particular issue or problem.

24th Dec 2021 6:55pm

landy andy

Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5666

Great response thanks.

But “ By it's very nature it needs to be a bit spinny” is the bit I question. Why not lock the two parts together when not installed. Easy fit, then spinny spinny no stealy. When locked.

24th Dec 2021 7:07pm

MichaelE

Member Since: 18 Jan 2020
Location: Crawley West Sussex
Posts: 155

It does not need to be "spinny". It needs to spin enough to prevent turning of the steering column. Nothing more. And not everybody has fingers slender enough to get them in there.

Yes, I've had times where it has, much to my surprise, dropped straight on. Far outweighed by the number of times that it hasn't, and I've been in the same position as Andy.

24th Dec 2021 7:13pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17351

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

bodstruck wrote:
By it's very nature it needs to be a bit spinny

I just roughly line it up (the pins are not equally spaced so easy enough to see which way is 'up'), slip it on then using one of my fingers behind it to hold the two parts together turn it slightly until it drops into place. Never been a particular issue or problem.

This ^^. I have never found it a problem (and actually enjoy the challenge of getting right first time).

24th Dec 2021 7:19pm

90 Dreamer

Member Since: 13 Jul 2019
Location: Oop North
Posts: 2141

2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 HT Corris Grey

Not my 'cheat' - very kindly mentioned by someone on here - cheers.......

Get a small dremel (similiar tools are available

) and put a small groove in the centre point of the central rim underneath.....
You can feel this with your finger (stop sniggering) whilst sliding the boss into position and hey presto.....

Will get a pic when the festivities calm down.........

24th Dec 2021 8:15pm

donmacn

Member Since: 06 Nov 2017
Location: Nth Scotland
Posts: 1841

bodstruck wrote:
By it's very nature it needs to be a bit spinny

I just roughly line it up (the pins are not equally spaced so easy enough to see which way is 'up'), slip it on then using one of my fingers behind it to hold the two parts together turn it slightly until it drops into place. Never been a particular issue or problem.

^^^

I agree it takes a bit of figuring out to find something that works for ‘you’.

But bodstruck’s approach is more or less what I do. I can just get enough of my index fingers onto the internal section to stop it moving, line it up, and pop it on. If it’s not completely lined up, I can move it a little, side to side till it pops on.

I also have the X-Eng pedal lock for those occasions where I have to leave the car somewhere I’d rather not, but I find the Optimill boss is a few seconds only once you’ve found your own knack. Donald

1994 Defender 300Tdi 110 SW - owned since 2002 - 230k miles and going strong
(The 'rolling restoration' or tinkering thread: http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic58538.html )
2000 Range Rover P38 4.0L V8

in the past..
RR classic - fitted with 200Tdi
1984 RR classic - V8 with ZF auto box
1993 Discovery 300Tdi

not to mention the minis and the Type 2 VW camper...

24th Dec 2021 8:23pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

I just put my index finger on one of the three holes and then line it up with where the corrsponding pin is to drop it on.

It's one one those things that's frustrating at first and then when you get the knack becomes second nature. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

25th Dec 2021 10:10am

OsloBlue

Member Since: 14 Jul 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 822

Sounds like they should have made the inner locking mechanism magnetised, or possibly weighted. this way the heavy section always falls to the bottom.

Where did you get yours from? since LRDsec closed ive been trying to get one and most places have cancelled my order as they're not actually in stock.

Some places are charging "£220-265 for one, that's 76% over RRP! I'm on IG: https://www.instagram.com/osloblue42/
Current: TD5 '110 "Lucinda" Thread here: https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic62562.html

25th Dec 2021 10:40am

Race.it

Member Since: 27 Aug 2019
Location: Algeciras
Posts: 815

2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Alaska White

You can buy direct from Optimill? Searching for my first Defender...and started just as Covid hit, so talk about timing.

5 months after starting the search I found it, and here is the details

25th Dec 2021 10:53am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17351

OsloBlue wrote:
Sounds like they should have made the inner locking mechanism magnetised, or possibly weighted. this way the heavy section always falls to the bottom....

A tough assessment, since with possibly one exception no-one seems to have trouble with the existing design. I have always found it to be an excellent design and very easy to use as it is.

Any system based on weighting would fail anyway since you cannot predict the orientation of the top of the column when you park.

25th Dec 2021 10:56am

OsloBlue

Member Since: 14 Jul 2018
Location: Essex
Posts: 822

Race.it wrote:
You can buy direct from Optimill?

Last time I ordered told it was on order (for manufacture) not in stock.

Will try again though. I'm on IG: https://www.instagram.com/osloblue42/
Current: TD5 '110 "Lucinda" Thread here: https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic62562.html

25th Dec 2021 2:16pm

JPE

Member Since: 19 Nov 2018
Location: South West England
Posts: 333

2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Firenze Red

I agree it’s an excellent design. Place a finger over one of the holes & its quick & easy to line up.

25th Dec 2021 7:31pm

Cubflyer

Member Since: 25 Sep 2021
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 278

OsloBlue wrote:
Race.it wrote:
You can buy direct from Optimill?

Last time I ordered told it was on order (for manufacture) not in stock.

Will try again though.

FWIW ... I went straight to Optimill but they'de just been to a show and sold out and did not expect more stock for about a week.

Not to be beaten I found Paddock Parts and got a very good price. Here's their link from minutes ago: https://www.paddockspares.com/optimill-swivel-lock.html

HTH

John 2010 Defender 90 300Tdi CW (White/1994)
2021 Defender 90 300Tdi SW (Blue/1994)

25th Dec 2021 9:29pm

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