United States 93V142001
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
The problem
THE CAP SCREWS THAT HOLD THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING LINKAGES ONTO THE INPUT AND OUTPUT SHAFTS OF THE 90 DEGREE STEERING GEAR BOX WERE IMPROPERLY TORQUED, AND CAN SEPARATE FROM THE LINKAGE CONNECTIONS. ALSO, THE KEYS WERE NOT INSTALLED IN THE KEYWAYS OF THE STEERING LINKAGE AND THE STEERING BOX SHAFT.
Risk
THE CAP SCREW SEPARATING FROM THE INTERMEDIATE LINKAGE/90 DEGREE GEAR BOX AND THE MISSING KEYS HAVE THE POTENTIAL FOR CATASTROPHICFAILURE OF THE STEERING SYSTEM WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
What owners should do
REMOVE ALL FASTENERS CONNECTING THE STEERING GEAR BOX INPUT AND OUTPUT SHAFTS TO THE INTERMEDIATE LINKAGES AND REASSEMBLE WITH NEW KEYS, CAP SCREWS, WASHERS, AND NUTS.
Units 336