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Author
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Topic: Steering Box Rebuild
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nmgm2
True Blue Posts: 46
From: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted June 07, 2004 11:54
   
I have just rebuilt my steering gear, it all seemed to be going wonderfully, I had managed to remove all the play, torqued up all the nuts correctly, pushed over the tabs and filled it up with oil.However the next day when I went to refit the steering gear I noticed all my gasket joints were weeping ever so slightly. All the joint surfaces were clean and smooth before I fitted the new gaskets and I lighly greased them before fitting them, I compressed them evenly and torqued them up. What am I doing wrong? Michael IP: Logged |
David
True Blue Posts: 137
From: Eunice, Louisiana
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted June 07, 2004 16:58
Michael,
i think my i/t manuel said that one paper gasket had to remain in the set of shims and that it had to be placed in the outermost position. (i.e. closest to the pitman arm) it may be leaking there if you don't have a paper there. i did not have to worry about it because in order to remove most of the play i had to take out all my shims. so all i put back was a new paper gasket i cut using a shim as a template.hope this helps , david IP: Logged |
nmgm2
True Blue Posts: 46
From: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted June 07, 2004 17:12
DavidAll I had in it was the paper gasket, the thing is the one on the column shaft housing is leaking as well, I wonder if it is the type or thickness of the gasket paper Michael IP: Logged |
David
True Blue Posts: 137
From: Eunice, Louisiana
Registered: Feb 2004
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posted June 07, 2004 20:44
did you use gear oil or regular oil?i would try to tighten the nuts on both slightly again, be careful not to strip. and then watch for more leakage. to take all the slack out of my top shaft i had to even leave the paper gasket out, and i just used a good coat of red spray gasket maker. it has not leaked a drop. i did let it set overnight before filling. the bottom gasket i put was pretty thick probably the thickness of a water pump gasket or something. regards, david IP: Logged |
nmgm2
True Blue Posts: 46
From: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted June 07, 2004 22:03
DavidI used gear oil. SAE 80W - 90 (Shell brand) the best I could find. Both paper gaskets were 17 thou uncompressed, 12 thou compressed (assummed, from the workshop manual) and I greased both sides before fitting. I did not fit any shims on the rocker shaft as the feeler gauge gave a reading of 10 thou. I torqued the nuts up to 55 - 60 ft/lb (as spec, 10-12 ft/lb on the thrust bearing) evenly around the housing (column, rocker, etc) I did not want to go any higher as the casting was aluminum. Additionally, the top most threaded stud leaked as well (more than the gasket), it came out when I originally took the steering gear apart. I carefully reinstalled it but it seems that the oil has followed the thread. I did not use any flexible gasket, but I am thinking of replacing the bottom rocker shaft gasket with two 5 thou shims and a flexible gasket. I thought about using flexible gasket but decided to use that the steering gear had originally been designed for paper gaskets. I wonder if the original castings have missaligned/migrated over time. When I came to disassemble the unit I found only a small amount of oil in the base. I wonder if the unit has been leaking for the last 45 years! The funny thing is that the new seals I have installed do not leak and they are meant to be the weak part of the design. I will replace the Column gasket with flexble gasket as well. The top column bearing gasket is to high to leak so I will leave it. Thanks Michael IP: Logged |
tractorfix
True Blue Posts: 143
From: Uxbridge, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted June 07, 2004 22:48
I was faced with the same problem on my 62 Super D. I put a grease fitting in the box and will pump it full of synthetic grease that is alledgedly good to some ridiculously cold temp. I'll let y'all know the results of this experiment as soon as I get it going. ( waiting for motor parts in the snail mail). IP: Logged |
Jos Cuypers
True Blue Posts: 410
From: Tongeren - Belgium
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted June 08, 2004 13:38
It is very difficult to have the lower part of the Steering box "OIL Close" as there are a lot of metal shimms used. Also, when the steeringbox is filled up for 100% the pressure inside the steeringbox may go up due to temperature! This pressure increase will push out the oil where ever is possible and most likely, it is at the rims and seals at the lower end of the box.
I used Loctite 510 sealant , on my second try to prevent leaking, between the different shimms and have no leaks anymmore. Only at the top I did not use it as there is no risk of leaking. Do not use it on the paper shimm as dis-assy is not possible.
I filled the box with a mixture of 50% 15W40 oils and 50% of grease as I did not have the SAE90 oil available.
Regards
IP: Logged |
nmgm2
True Blue Posts: 46
From: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
Registered: Jul 2003
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posted June 08, 2004 17:05
I am going to try out a sealant rather than paper gaskets, I will let you all know how I get on. It will take me a while as I am away from my tractor for a month or more.I am sorry but I don't believe the steering box is a pressurised system or that the temperature changes are going to be large. The volume of air in the top of the steering box is limited and can easily leak past the top seal and or the steering wheel retaining nut. The oil can be taken to be a constant volume. The pressure on the gaskets should be minor and only hydrostatic pressure. Thanks Michael IP: Logged |
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