The Ford Barn

Robert/Texas · 09-18-2016, 11:15 AM

Yesterday I adjusted the sector shaft end play on the 7-tooth steering box in my ’28 roadster. When I started I had about 4-1/2 inches of play in the steering wheel. Now I have about a quarter inch of play. As I was working on it I slowly and frequently added 250-wt Texaco Thurban steering gear grease which I have been using in several of my cars for many years. The steering feels real smooth and the car is easy to steer as I have the Teflon buttons in the tie rod and pitman arm ends and a shortened pitman arm.
I took the car for a 10 mile spin and then had a beer. This morning I saw a puddle of grease on my driveway. I’m not sure this was due to overfilling or to the adjustment or both. Suggestions will be appreciated
Thanks, Robert

H. L. Chauvin · 09-18-2016, 11:43 AM

One positive way to check for leaks in any container such as a gear box is to remove the top plug to visually inspect the level of lubricant.

Model As have an 80+ year long history of lubricant leaks from different sources.

C26Pinelake · 09-18-2016, 11:52 AM

Are you talking grease as you state or oil ? Wayne

Robert/Texas · 09-18-2016, 12:30 PM

This doesn't work well in this case. The thick grease takes time to flow down the worm so it appears full each time you top it off. I know it leaks because there was fresh grease on my concrete driveway.

H. L. Chauvin · 09-18-2016, 12:41 PM

FWIW:

Under "Search" there are numerous recommendations not to use grease for Model A steering gear lubricant ....... but ....... like all other unlimited Model A opinions and recommendations ...... they are like planets in the universe scattered as far out as infinity ........ most in life just grab a specific planetary opinion to their liking and run with it.

Kurt in NJ · 09-18-2016, 01:28 PM

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You have to determine if the leak is coming out the sector shaft, the light switch rod or the cover, each has a different fix

the cork light switch rod seal should be replaced with the kind with a tube

the quick seal for the sector is the plate/O ring between the frame and gear---but greasing the fitting could help

the cover has a gasket, I have seen them shrunk into the housing leaving a big gap

Benson · 09-18-2016, 01:51 PM

Do you have this tube installed?

http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=3299

I see you have a 28 this might not fit ...

1931 flamingo · 09-18-2016, 02:49 PM

PennRite steering box lube=NO Leakie. FWIW

Paul in CT

Jerry in Shasta · 09-18-2016, 03:01 PM

I use John Deere "corn head grease" Its a thick oil or a thin grease. It's a good grease
for the steering gear. JB

Robert/Texas · 09-18-2016, 03:17 PM

The label on the 5-gallon pail says SAE 250 and is a mineral oil and is used for steering boxes. I’m sorry I called it grease. The steering box in my ’34 roadster was leaking and I solved that issue with this stuff some 5 or 10 years ago.
I think I’ll take a chance and order/install an oil retainer with tube like the one on page 24 of the 2016 Brattons catalog. This part is for ‘28s and ‘29s and hopefully it will fit. My ’28 roadster has a mid-September 1928 serial number.
Thanks for your help, Robert

H. L. Chauvin · 09-18-2016, 04:51 PM

Your photo, (34 Roadster ), looks just great ..... appears they must be rare.

ian Simpson · 09-18-2016, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Benson

Do you have this tube installed?

http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=3299

I see you have a 28 this might not fit ...

It did not fit the 7-tooth steering in my 1928.

I replaced the felt seal around the lighting rod with a rubber washer designed to fit the spindle of a water tap. It made the steering a bit stiff for the first few miles but everything is now OK.

My set up is the same as Robert from Texas with Teflon tie rod/ drag link ends and short pitman arm. I did replace the worm and sector as well as the various bushes last winter. The play went from 4 1/2 to 1/4 inch. No leaks as yet using 600W oil.

Dutie · 12-09-2016, 10:47 PM

Hey Robert, thats a real sweet lookin roadster you have there. Dutie

Robert/Texas · 12-10-2016, 09:23 AM

Thanks for the complements on my '34 roadster. I have 6 pre-war Fords and this is the one I like and drive the most. Also 1934 is the year I was born.
On the '28 roadster I solved the leak problem by replacing the horn rod using a standard felt seal as the tube type seal didn't fit. The old horn rod was badly butchered where the c-clip goes and I think it's looseing of the compressed felt seal was the cause of the leak.
Thanks again for everyone's help and interest, Robert

C26Pinelake · 12-10-2016, 09:43 AM

Problem solved, next ! Wayne

BILL WILLIAMSON · 12-10-2016, 10:59 AM

Just a note: Minervas' steering box was apparently rebuilt, nicely, except for FINAL adjustments.
I found it was pumped 2/3 full of CLEAR grease, from the lower fitting, but the grease was "channeling"---Topped it off with Valvoline Multi-Vis Synthetic Gear oil. In 2 weeks of driving, it gradually got EASIER & EASIER to steer & DIDN'T LEAK.
Bill W.

09-18-2016, 11:15 AM	#1
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 689	Steering Box Leak Yesterday I adjusted the sector shaft end play on the 7-tooth steering box in my ’28 roadster. When I started I had about 4-1/2 inches of play in the steering wheel. Now I have about a quarter inch of play. As I was working on it I slowly and frequently added 250-wt Texaco Thurban steering gear grease which I have been using in several of my cars for many years. The steering feels real smooth and the car is easy to steer as I have the Teflon buttons in the tie rod and pitman arm ends and a shortened pitman arm. I took the car for a 10 mile spin and then had a beer. This morning I saw a puddle of grease on my driveway. I’m not sure this was due to overfilling or to the adjustment or both. Suggestions will be appreciated Thanks, Robert

09-18-2016, 11:43 AM	#2
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Steering Box Leak One positive way to check for leaks in any container such as a gear box is to remove the top plug to visually inspect the level of lubricant. Model As have an 80+ year long history of lubricant leaks from different sources.

09-18-2016, 11:52 AM	#3
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Steering Box Leak Are you talking grease as you state or oil ? Wayne

09-18-2016, 12:30 PM	#4
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 689	Re: Steering Box Leak This doesn't work well in this case. The thick grease takes time to flow down the worm so it appears full each time you top it off. I know it leaks because there was fresh grease on my concrete driveway.

09-18-2016, 12:41 PM	#5
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Steering Box Leak FWIW: Under "Search" there are numerous recommendations not to use grease for Model A steering gear lubricant ....... but ....... like all other unlimited Model A opinions and recommendations ...... they are like planets in the universe scattered as far out as infinity ........ most in life just grab a specific planetary opinion to their liking and run with it.

09-18-2016, 01:28 PM	#6
Kurt in NJ Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: on the Littlefield Posts: 6,175	Re: Steering Box Leak Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) You have to determine if the leak is coming out the sector shaft, the light switch rod or the cover, each has a different fix the cork light switch rod seal should be replaced with the kind with a tube the quick seal for the sector is the plate/O ring between the frame and gear---but greasing the fitting could help the cover has a gasket, I have seen them shrunk into the housing leaving a big gap

09-18-2016, 01:51 PM	#7
Benson Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,612	Re: Steering Box Leak Do you have this tube installed? http://parts.modelastore.com/show_Product.asp?ID=3299 I see you have a 28 this might not fit ... Last edited by Benson; 09-18-2016 at 02:13 PM.

09-18-2016, 02:49 PM	#8
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,393	Re: Steering Box Leak PennRite steering box lube=NO Leakie. FWIW Paul in CT

09-18-2016, 03:01 PM	#9
Jerry in Shasta Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: (Old)Shasta (Redding) CA Posts: 385	Re: Steering Box Leak I use John Deere "corn head grease" Its a thick oil or a thin grease. It's a good grease for the steering gear. JB __________________ Connoisseur of Rust

09-18-2016, 03:17 PM	#10
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 689	Re: Steering Box Leak The label on the 5-gallon pail says SAE 250 and is a mineral oil and is used for steering boxes. I’m sorry I called it grease. The steering box in my ’34 roadster was leaking and I solved that issue with this stuff some 5 or 10 years ago. I think I’ll take a chance and order/install an oil retainer with tube like the one on page 24 of the 2016 Brattons catalog. This part is for ‘28s and ‘29s and hopefully it will fit. My ’28 roadster has a mid-September 1928 serial number. Thanks for your help, Robert

09-18-2016, 04:51 PM	#11
H. L. Chauvin Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 4,179	Re: Steering Box Leak Your photo, (34 Roadster ), looks just great ..... appears they must be rare.

12-09-2016, 10:47 PM	#13
Dutie Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Kingston N>Y> Posts: 121	Re: Steering Box Leak Hey Robert, thats a real sweet lookin roadster you have there. Dutie

12-10-2016, 09:23 AM	#14
Robert/Texas Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Burton, Texas Posts: 689	Re: Steering Box Leak Thanks for the complements on my '34 roadster. I have 6 pre-war Fords and this is the one I like and drive the most. Also 1934 is the year I was born. On the '28 roadster I solved the leak problem by replacing the horn rod using a standard felt seal as the tube type seal didn't fit. The old horn rod was badly butchered where the c-clip goes and I think it's looseing of the compressed felt seal was the cause of the leak. Thanks again for everyone's help and interest, Robert

12-10-2016, 09:43 AM	#15
C26Pinelake BANNED Join Date: May 2010 Location: Michigan / Ontario border, Sarnia, Ontario. 50 miles from Detroit and 150 from Toronto. Posts: 5,800	Re: Steering Box Leak Problem solved, next ! Wayne

12-10-2016, 10:59 AM	#16
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: Steering Box Leak Just a note: Minervas' steering box was apparently rebuilt, nicely, except for FINAL adjustments. I found it was pumped 2/3 full of CLEAR grease, from the lower fitting, but the grease was "channeling"---Topped it off with Valvoline Multi-Vis Synthetic Gear oil. In 2 weeks of driving, it gradually got EASIER & EASIER to steer & DIDN'T LEAK. Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"