I tried corn head grease!

[Ron Lachniet]

In my steering box I mix corn head with gear lube so it will just pour and it has been in steering box for three years and 20 thousand miles and it works great. John Deere formulated corn head grease to cling to the gears and yet be fluid enough to flow back if it is flung away from the gears. I also use it on my U-joint.

[iverson]

just an update so far no leaks! with 600w it would always drip a little sometimes a lot, car steers fine. very pleased!

[ktkamm]

Originally Posted by iverson

just an update so far no leaks! with 600w it would always drip a little sometimes a lot, car steers fine. very pleased!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[rosenkranswa]

On my way to Tractor Supply today to try some in my Roadster...

[iverson]

As far as I know the only place to get corn head grease is at a John Deere tractor dealer it cost me 4.50 a tube. Try it I think you will be happy!

[Jeff/Illinois]

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Originally Posted by rosenkranswa

On my way to Tractor Supply today to try some in my Roadster...

Definitely go to JD to buy this. They had it specially formulated for old leaky gear boxes.

[Diastole]

Penrite SemiFluid and Steering Box Lube. As a faithful follower of advice on the FordBarn, I used this to solve my leaky steering box. I too replaced the endplate with the one welded to the snorkel (Snyder's). Drop in perfect fit.
I debated on CornHead Grease and other SemiFluid Greases. It seems the community is split. Penrite makes a semifluid grease (suggested by Tom Endy in another thread) that is less viscous (slightly more runny/fluid) than cornhead grease. It is formulated for steering boxes as well.

I bought both. I have a HumVee planetary gear box and put both in and tested it. Both lowered the coefficient of friction markedly. Both resisted leaking out of the cover as a slowly backed off the cover bolts. I heated the gear box to 40 degrees, 75 degrees, 100 degrees, and 110 degrees in my sand blasting chamber. No difference in leaks until gear box cover was 3/64" separated and that was at 110 degrees. At 100 degrees no leaks until the gap was 4/64".

However, what convinced me was upon inspection at temperature level 100 and 110 degrees the gears were equally covered in lubricant. But, at temperatures below 85 degrees the corn head grease did not flow into the cogs of the gears like the Penrite product did. At 40 degrees the grease separated and the gears ran unlubricated. It took 28 seconds at 40 degrees for the Penrite grease to mix in the gears.

I opted for the Penrite product. Have had no leaks and steering works well.

In summary, I think either or both would work, it depends on your ambient and operating temps. The gear box on my '30 coupe never reaches over 88 degrees even during a tour on a hot southern day (measured with laser thermometer).

Goes to show, if you ask ten Model A "experts" how to do something you will get 10 answers about the five best ways.
Full disclosure, I am just a Joe Schmo, not paid or compensated by anyone for anything related to Model A's. Just an ol' engineer with too much think time on his hands.

Diastole in the Smoky Mountains

[jrelliott]

Suggestion on putting the Corn Head grease in steering box. Remove the upper zerk and pump grease in the lower fitting until it starts to come out of the upper fitting hole. This way you are not putting a lot of pressure in the steering box to force the oil and grease out from the pressure of putting in the grease. Found my Corn head grease on vacation in Durango Colorado at John Deere dealer. Do have the newer type zerk fittings with a ball and spring in my 7 tooth box.

[Klattu1929]

I'm on the Penrite wagon, rebuilt my 7-tooth, used the welded tube(2 thumbs up). Steers very well for an old buggy, hasn't leaked-yet.

[Mike1291]

For those without access to Penrite you can also use a grease they sell at Tractor Supply Co called "Super S Cotton Picker Spindle Grease". Just like Penrite it has a thickness rating of NGLI 00 and uses lithium. It'll set you back about $6.

[JoeCB]

Corn head grease (fluid) ... Thixotropic ... fancy word, interesting story... look it up
Joe B

[Fullraceflathead]

That's a great performance test you did Diastole!!!

[Jerry in Shasta]

I think corn head grease has ase of about 1200
jb

[CT Jack]

Technically speaking, corn head grease has a unique property known as thixotropic. This means it becomes licquid when agitated and then returns to its original thickness when at rest. Most grades of grease remain thick and do not migrate or move around during operation. They tend to cake.

[nkaminar]

I tried Corn head grease too but went back to Brylcreem. A little dab will do ya.

[Benson]

Originally Posted by jrelliott

Suggestion on putting the Corn Head grease in steering box. Remove the upper zerk and pump grease in the lower fitting until it starts to come out of the upper fitting hole. This way you are not putting a lot of pressure in the steering box to force the oil and grease out from the pressure of putting in the grease. Found my Corn head grease on vacation in Durango Colorado at John Deere dealer. Do have the newer type zerk fittings with a ball and spring in my 7 tooth box.

When you speak of the lower grease fitting are you referring to the zerk on the sector BUSHING housing which is on some gears?

I do not see this fitting on the two tooth housing A-3580B.

Thanks

[wrndln]

I was wondering if any of these grease/heavy oils like Penrite, JD corn head grease or Tractor Supply's Super S Cotton Picker grease would work well in a leaky dripping differential. It would seem any of them would either eliminate minor leaks or at least minimize leaks with no down sides. Any comments?
Rusty Nelson

[duke36]

When corn head liquifies especially in the universal joint, it will leak based on experience. One culprit in the steering box can be the side adjustment sector screw where some owners use a rubber washer/brass gasket combo under the capture nut.

[Jeff/Illinois]

JD Cotton Picker Spindle Grease,,, they have you covered here too.


You can buy smaller containers this is just for reference.


https://shop.deere.com/us/product/AN...nd)/p/AN113719

[Clem Clement]

Tractor supply used to sell Corn head grease.