Sawn off steering shaft
 

I have a steering box from a '47 1/2 ton that has about 6" of shaft sticking out. I got it with a front frame section in a load of jailbar trucks and parts a few years back. I almost didn't haul that piece, but the owner said it was a really good steering box and I should take it. I have been reading about and testing steering boxes from a few parts trucks etc. The sawn off one really seems nice and tight. Folks I have contacted want 400.00 or so plus shipping both ways for a rebuild. Has anyone here ever mated something like this to their original shaft with a coupler or sleeve? Is it important to have the mast jacket intact? This 'driver/farm truck' won't be going to shows or judged for original. It just has a badly worn steering box. Thanks, GB

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Very common to cut the shafts to make shipping the steering box easier. And fairly simple to reweld the box to the upper shaft. I like to weld the two pieces together and then weld a collar over the joint. The shaft does have to be welded straight and with high quality welds.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

The shafts can be removed from the box and replaced. They just press on the worm. One consideration is getting the keyway in the right place. I made a coupling sleeve that was a light press fit on the shaft. The sleeve was welded to the stub then the new end could be accurately positioned and then welded.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

I've welded shafts together many times. Deeply V the join and then mig it. Make sure it is clamped straight using angle iron, and remains straight after welding. The weld is only subject to the loads you can put in by hand, so any competent weld is easily strong enough. The tubing is very heavy wall and excellent quality material.

Check this post: https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/...3#post-8446254

Unfortunately I did not take a pic when then the tube was bevelled. Just imagine it bevelled all the way through at 45 degrees and held slightly apart when welding.

Mart.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

as jseery and Mart said, it's really pretty easy. the f100 box in my 32 was cut like that. paid $25 for it because of it. I needed to cut it anyway to run the steering wheel I wanted. clean up the cut, V out both ends and clamp it on a piece of angle iron. if you aren't 100% positive of your welding ability, i would bring it to a welder. if you prep it well and everything is nice and clean and in a fixture to weld, usually it's damn cheap. welding is like bodywork, usually the prep is the time consuming part.when I had a 110v welder I didn't use it on steering parts... I now have a tig so this sort of thing is a no brainer.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Thanks! I am a competent welder and have a 220v mig. I like the angle iron for staying straight too. Just leave the bottom end of the mast jacket cut off?

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Use the mast jacket and remaining shaft from your worn out box????

Mart.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Welding on any steering component is NOT the way to go! Ask your insurance company.
Even if it was approved, mig welding would be the last way to do it.

It is a relatively easy job to remove the cut shaft and install a new one or make a new one from scratch.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

X2, I agree with you Pete. It's not at all difficult to press a shaft out of the worm gear, and press another one back in. I've done this many times for my own projects, and for other Barners. NealinCA did a post with pictures on his method, and I believe I did a post as well showing a slightly different method and a very simple tool that I made for this purpose.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Borgeson makes a sleeve for the purpose that can be welded or pinned.
I pinned the last one I did.
Using the sleeve eliminates the butt weld.

http://www.borgeson.com/xcart/produc...&cat=24&page=2

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Nothing wrong with mig welding mild steel tubing, it's when you get into chromoly that you get into trouble with a mig. lots of welded in steering components on race cars these days.



Ironic to me that the guy that builds MONSTER street flatheads thinks a proper welded shaft is risky lol

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Have you ever run a qualitative analysis on the steering shaft material?
It is NOT mild steel.

Check the rules of sanctioning race associations. NO WELDED STEERING COMPONENTS.

I haven't built a street engine for 40 years.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Hard to reply without seeming like a smartarse.
I would still propose that in GB's application, a welded shaft would be perfectly adequate. I'm not going to argue the toss, it's up to the individual to decide. If there is a sanctioning body that rules it out, that's a different matter.

Mart.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Hey JB! Where are you going to be racing your truck? I wanna come and watch!

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

You would not be joking about it if he hit you head on because his steering shaft broke.
His insurance company would just laugh at him.
Your insurance would just pay your next of kin.

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

The shaft is 3/4" diameter. A perimeter weld would be that laid out flat. Is that 3.14 x 3/4" sheared sideways? I consider myself a pretty tough
65 year old, but I doubt I could shear a weld (longitudinally) like that even with my brawn. A tie rod or drag link is after the multiplier, but steering shaft is just that.... A steering shaft. My dad was an insurance guy and I loved him to pieces, but if I listened to every caution he ever gave me I would be cowering in a closet right now, afraid of everything instead of having a great time 'simply messing about in old vehicles'. The quote is from Kenneth Graham, author of 'Wind in the Willows'. And it was boats. Either way, I like to take other people's old worn out stuff that I can get cheap and fix it up so I can enjoy it after work and on weekends. I may lose my life's fortune because of an accident, but it won't be because of a failed weld. Or kingpins reamed with sandpaper in a slotted handle of a wooden spoon. Nascar is Nascar. Old trucks on a 40 max mph island is another thing altogether. BTW..., Who in their right mind insures the 'RATROD ' community? They do well publicized cross country runs touted in their magazines...... Hagertys?????

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

i have welded several, and dont loose any sleep over it. however, the shaft is easy to find and easy to replace. welded stuff is usually for a custom application

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

cas 3 , the voice of reason. Were you a middle child?

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

I'll post some key threads here on how folks have pressed these worm gears on/off their respective steering shafts. The final decision on how you want to go is totally your call, no one is twisting your arm to go either way. Again, your call.

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...=steering+worm

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...sing+worm+gear

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ring+worm+gear

https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ring+worm+gear

Re: Sawn off steering shaft
 

Here’s an idea for your GB. I mated an F1 box and about 10 inches of steering shaft to a custom built solid shaft that was splined on top for a 41 Pontiac steering wheel. Both shafts were machined with flat sides at the joint and then I used a solid ( no u joint) double D Coupler To join them tighten the setscrews in the Coupler, and for extra measure welded the coupler to the shafts.