Originally Posted by
DaveReidUK
This PPRuNe thread includes some debate on the subject from 20(!) years ago:
Apropos of the latter, I can vouch for the fact that the Shorts commuters were able, with a bit of sporty manoeuvring on the ground, to run the nosewheel steering pinion completely off the rack and thereby get the gear to rotate 180°.
Originally there were small lugs at either end of the rack that were meant to restrain the pinion. After Air Ecosse managed to get the pinion off the end of the rack (over the lug) during weather cocking on landing up at Wick, Shorts came up with the suggestion that the lug be broken off to allow the pinion to re-engage with the rack!