Rag Joints

Rag Joint Terminology - Clarifying Confusion

Saginaw 800 power gearboxes are normally connected to the steering column with a rag joint (flexible coupling). From 1960 to 1976, the gearboxes had a 13/16” shaft, in 1977 they changed to a 3/4” shaft. (All Saginaw 800s have a shaft flat, In earlier vehicles, especially with manual gearboxes, they may or may not have a shaft flat.)

For Saginaw 800 rag joints, the specifications include the shaft size and the spline count. Its the spline count where confusion occurs

• A rag joint is sold as a 13/16 - 36 spline, others call the same rag joint a 13-16 - 31 spline

• The 36 spline count is what you would have if there was no flat on the shaft. The 31 count spline is the number of splines you can actually count. This is the cause of the confusion

Rag Joint Removal

A common mistake with rag joints (flexible couplings) is to think that loosening its "pinch" bolt will allow you to remove the rag joint from the steering shaft. Loosening the bolt is not enough, the bolt must be removed for it to slip off the input shaft. The same goes for installation - insert the bolt after the rag joint is positioned on the shaft.

1977 and up had a 7/16” 6 point bolt head, prior to 1977 they were 12 point, so you'll need a 12 point socket for these.

Rag Joint and Pinch Bolt

Pinch bolt installed on rag joint