Cure for the steering box blues

[RedbarnRick 5]

Here’s a tip for rebuilding your steering box on a large frame tractor, I am rebuilding two at once so I tore down both boxes and a spare. I found that all three boxes were stiff to turn, and it seems most of the problems were in the steering shaft/ pinion gear area. I cleaned up all the grease with a window scraper and wire brushed the two best boxes, put the large gear shaft spacer and nut on to keep dirt and wire brush debris out of the grease and needle bearings.(see pic) All the boxes needle bearings were it great shape.(#3 the shaft was frozen and unusable). While studying the boxes I saw that a grease zerk would fit in the spacer that the shaft fit thru (see the pic one is shown with the zerk and the other in the installed position, try to orient it to the side away from the gas tank for accessability) and since both were worn down a .001 I figured grease would force it’s way in. I carefully drilled the hole in the spacer with a wood dowel inside to keep from hitting the bore, I then tapped it ¼ -24 fine thread and cleaned up the inside with a round file, insert the grease fitting and it’s ready for another 30 years. Use an exacto knife or a disposable break off knife to clean the gears. Tape the gears teeth before paint. Set the gear mesh with the two bolts and spacer collar until the most gear contact occurs without binding and lightly oil the gears. Paint it once it’s assembled or at least wait to paint the steering shaft since the paint will be scraped off from the collar and spacer. If any one knows what simplicity used on the gears for a lubricant let us know. [img]/club2/attach/redbarnrick/DSC00002.jpg[/img]

[goatfarmer 817]

Great info,Rick. My 7016 sorely needs that done.

[RedbarnRick 5]

Oh Yeah! Happy New Year Guys And Gals! The cobwebs finally started to clear by 4pm [:0] One more thing on the steering box check the woodruff key on the pinion for slop if it's sloppy you get a lot of backlash even if you set the gears up properly.

[dhardin 0]

Steering Box Blues, isint that in the key for G, first recorded by BB King, LOL Long time on hear from you my friend RedbarnRick. Hope everything is well Dan H

[RedbarnRick 5]

Here's a pic showing the completed assembly I added an arrow to show the grease zerk.
[img]/club2/attach/redbarnrick/DSC00027.jpg[/img]
You can get grease in it easily with a special grease gun tool for tight spots don't know the name of it so here's a pic.
[img]/club2/attach/redbarnrick/DSC00028.jpg[/img]

[Ketchamized 2]

Rick, Looks great. Let us know how it turned out once it's installed. My steering on the B-210 is a little bit difficult and it needs to be rehabiliated too. Someone here used very thin washer with rolling bearings in it with great results. I've been wondering where to get that and exactly where to install them. Maybe your grease zerk idea with the other guy's rolling bearings would work together great & make for an ideal steering situation.

[PeppyDan 3]

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Someone here used very thin washer with rolling bearings in it with great results. I've been wondering where to get that and exactly where to install them. Maybe your grease zerk idea with the other guy's rolling bearings would work together great & make for an ideal steering situation.

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I mentioned that in one of my posts. http://www.simpletractors.com/club2/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=70510 I installed the needle bearings in my Simplicity 7120 Honda conversion. I plan to rebuild another steering box when I get back on my feet from surgery. I will be going through step by step on how I do it. I installed the grease zerk for mine in the end of the steering shaft. I then drilled a cross hole in the shaft at the bearing. This allows me to grease it from the bottom of the tractor along with the original grease zerk for the cross shaft. Dan

[Ketchamized 2]

Dan, That sounds great! I'm sure that a lot of us would benefit from a steering wheel box rehabiliation. In the meantime, best wishes for a good recovery.