What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

I know it's been asked a1000 times...
But what gear oil do I use in a 50 Merc steering box?
Thanks Rand

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

you could spark a week long debate on this, but some like 85 140 gear lube, some say straight stp, if you have a leaker some like john deere corn head grease. you could pick one, or wait for the roar to start! happy motoring

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

I read here about straight STP. And they had it at the grocery store, I put it in, feels real good.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

My otherwise smooth and tight steering ('41 Coupe) dripped dry. Replaced with 600W gear lube (the modern Mobil version) and it also leaks. I recently filled the steering box with corn head grease to see if that will stay in the box.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

Cornhead grease in my 52 Merc (and a few others) steering box for a while now. Seems to work fine and sure cut down on the leakage.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

If it leaks, use corn grease.
If it does not leak, use straight Power Punch or STP for greatly reduced steering effort along with long gear life.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

This worked for my dripping steering box: "Penrite" Steering Box Lube 500ML, Restoration Supply, Escondido CA (800) 306-7008

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

John Deere corn head grease.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

I've been using Penrite. Problem is, if you add cornhead, or Penrite, or any other similar, on top of something that leaks, then it's still going to leak, at least until the last of the leaky stuff works it's way out.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

I use cheap chassis grease with molly D The box is close to
to the exhaust and keeps it soft. Lots of old Fords with it in
and no leaks. G.M.

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

if you fill it with cement it woun,t leak. if you want it to work right fill it with 90 weight gear oil. if it leaks repair the leak

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

Ha, never thought about cement to repair leaks.

I do use a mix of JD cornhead and 300w I still have left. Works fine, so far. Probably the last thing anyone ever thinks to rebuild/re-gasket, but should. Me included. Not that it leaks bad or preforms poorly.



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Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

Decided over 10 years ago to remove the original felt dust seal and replace it with something better on my '51.
Have not seen any drips since while using Amsoil synthetic gear lube.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=41569
https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/pictu...ictureid=41568

Re: What oil to in a steering gear box?
 

The 49 through 51 Mercury cars have a heavy duty version of the Gemmer II gearbox. They have a larger sector shaft than Ford cars ever had up to that point. The bushing can wear and allow more than normal movement of the lower end of the sector shaft. This can cause seal damage over time. I've found these bushings on flea-pay but I think there are still a fair amount of NOS ones out there since they were originally for Ford truck gearboxes. The sector lower seal is available at most of the restoration parts suppliers. When everything is sealed up, about any good grade of gear lube will stay in there pretty well. On a leaker, I would use the HD corn header grease. As a thixotropic grease, it coats gears well when moving and solidifies at rest. Those JD corn cutting head gearboxes have a shaft going in and several going out so there are multiple places for the seals to leak. This is why JD chose the stuff. They may still have a video on their web site showing a cut away gearbox functioning with the stuff.