Another 7 tooth Steering Question

[Marshall V. Daut]

In 1928 until (?), Model A's came from the factory with Zerk fittings on top of the seven-tooth steering boxes. This grease fitting oddly was NOT intended for traditional grease. Rather, Ford dealership repair shops pumped a special thick lube into the steering box through that nipple. The lube was thicker than what is called 600w today. It didn't leak out of the steering box as easily as 600w does by itself. Who ever heard of owners complaining back then about leaking steering boxes when the Model A was new? The complaint Ford did receive about the seven-tooth steering boxes was non-adjustable play that had developed and was not correctable without replacing expensive internal parts and lots of labor time. Over the years when Model A's fell into the hands of 2nd and 3rd generation owners, people started repairing and maintaining their cars themselves or took them to the corner gas station for maintenance. This special lube or the equipment to use it were not commonly handy, so people started pumping chassis grease into the steering boxes. You can't blame them, as that Zerk fitting DOES look like it was meant for normal grease. Subsequent owners made the same mistake, not knowing they were actually delivering a death sentence to the sector gear teeth. I don't know when Ford stopped putting the Zerk fitting in the steering box for lube and changed to a standard pipe plug, but I'm guessing it was in 1929 when the two-tooth design replaced the seven-tooth boxes. When servicing Model A's with the pipe plug, I wonder if the Ford dealerships removed that plug, temporarily installed a Zerk fitting and then pumped the special lube under pressure into the steering box, replacing the Zerk fitting afterwards? The stuff was too thick to simply "pour" it. You know how long it takes to pour even 600w into the steering box! I can't imagine a Ford mechanic standing beside the car for 15 minutes while he patiently poured the goop into the steering box.
Anyway, if your Model A still has that Zerk fitting on top, resist the temptation of using your grease gun. Chassis grease will not coat the gear teeth and will be pushed away from the gears after a few turns. Then the death watch clock starts ticking...
Marshall