JD Corn Head grease for steering

[fftoddster]

Does anybody have an extra tube of grease they are willing to sell and ship to me?

My closest dealers don't carry it and say I have to buy a whole case of 30.

The other dealers that are farther away have it but won't ship grease.

I'm in Huntington Beach CA 92649

Also what is involved to put the grease in the steering gear box?
Hope it's ok to post this here.

[adileo]

Sorry I can't help with extra tube. I only have one and its in the grease gun

Have you tried googling a John Deere tractor? See if they would ship?

Try here: http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-D...-AN102562.html

As far as putting in steering box, it's a piece of cake. Remove bolt, put end of grease gun hose in hole and pump till full.

[CSArno]

Drain out the old oil if there is any left. Maybe fill the box with kero or gas and let it set (work the steering back and forth) then drain to get some of the crud out. Put the CHG in a regular grease gun and fill up the steering box.
Looks like this place sells it by the tube.
http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-D...-AN102562.html

[JSeery]

The online price is $3.71, but no idea what the shipping is.

[deuce_roadster]

I bought mine on line and got 4 tubes. It is the best for U-joints too. Regular chassis grease doesn't get into where it needs to on the U-joint bushings.

[estout81]

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AGCO dealers have the same stuff. It's not unique to John Deere. Might check with a TSC store.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by estout81

AGCO dealers have the same stuff. It's not unique to John Deere. Might check with a TSC store.

I know the Tractor Supply in this area does not have it. It can be purchased on line easy enough.

[corvette8n]

Try Massey-Ferguson, or IH dealer, also NAPA has "gear box grease" not sure if it's the same as JD cornhead.
See the following video on its properties.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UEwk_sYP6A8

[1931 flamingo]

PennRite steering box lube. Google it.
Available from Restoration Supply, Escondido, CA. NO LEAKY.
Paul in CT

[Bob T]

Stick with John Deere cornhead grease. The others may be as good but the John Deere definitely does the job.

[fftoddster]

Originally Posted by CSArno

Drain out the old oil if there is any left. Maybe fill the box with kero or gas and let it set (work the steering back and forth) then drain to get some of the crud out. Put the CHG in a regular grease gun and fill up the steering box.
Looks like this place sells it by the tube.
http://www.greenpartstore.com/John-D...-AN102562.html

Thanks. 2 tubes ordered.

Excuse my ignorance. I have not thoroughly examined the gear box. Is there a drain?

Where do you add the grease? Have to remove a cover?

[40 Deluxe]

Any local parts store has CV joint grease which is also heavy-bodied but flows instead of packing up away from the gears (or u-joint) like gun grease. No need to chase all over for corn picker grease.

[JSeery]

There is not a drain, you remove the lower cover. It is filled through the removable fill plug/cover. There are diagrams and rebuild information online, should help you identify how to fill. This one is from VanPelt's site.

[Kube]

Originally Posted by fftoddster

Thanks. 2 tubes ordered.

Excuse my ignorance. I have not thoroughly examined the gear box. Is there a drain?

Where do you add the grease? Have to remove a cover?

I took an extra plug from another steering box and installed a grease fitting to it. When I fill my steering gears, I temporarily install that modified fitting. This way, I am confident the gear box is packed.

[jimTN]

Using a reg grease in steering boxes runs the risk the top bearing does not get greased sooner or later. As the head gradually causes grease level to drop, all it takes is a very slight drop and the top worm bearing goes. Would think that is what is good about the CH grease cause it nearly goes liquid when warmed. It will run cause I have a bushog with a bad seal I got thru last summer's season with using CH grease and would find a small blob on the ground under it after use, just kept filling it to get by.

[rotorwrench]

Semi-fluid grease is not limited to the John Deere combine corn head gearboxes. Others use the Cenex corn head grease and there are more available. The key is the NGLI #0 rating on these types of thixotropic grease and a polyurea thickener. The polyurea thickener is a complex to produce due to the materials it is sythesized from. Isosyanate is not popular with the EPA so it is not widely used hear in the US.

Heat doesn't affect the fluidity as much as movement. The stuff turns to fluid as soon as there is movement and turns back to non fluid when movement stops. I doubt if a steering box generates much heat unless it happens to be right next to the engine exhaust pipe.

[SuperDave]

Originally Posted by fftoddster

Thanks. 2 tubes ordered.

Excuse my ignorance. I have not thoroughly examined the gear box. Is there a drain?

Where do you add the grease? Have to remove a cover?

My experience has been that Ford steering boxes are "self draining".. sorry.. I couldn't resist!

[Kahuna]

To Andy & JSeery
If the box is in good shape, adjusted well, etc, how do you drain the old stuff out?
I understand the kerosene trick for flushing, but am unclear on the drain proceedure.
Thanks
Jim

[CSArno]

Have to loosen the housing cover on the front of the steering box to drain it.

[FlatheadTed]

.Unless you fill your box right to the top once in a while the top bearing will not get lubed ,that means any type of lube ,some boxes came with a hole drilled in the Colom tube to add a drop .I don't recommend straight grease in a box but if the Corn head is not available you can make a mix up of 3 to one of engine oil ,This mix I would think is simler to semi liquid grease and that they have less thickeners . Ted

Originally Posted by jimTN

Using a reg grease in steering boxes runs the risk the top bearing does not get greased sooner or later. As the head gradually causes grease level to drop, all it takes is a very slight drop and the top worm bearing goes. Would think that is what is good about the CH grease cause it nearly goes liquid when warmed. It will run cause I have a bushog with a bad seal I got thru last summer's season with using CH grease and would find a small blob on the ground under it after use, just kept filling it to get by.

[Joe Immler]

I use Corn Head grease. I bought a bolt same thread as the nut on top of the steering box. Put a grease fitting in this and use it to fill the box. I think it works well.

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by Kahuna

To Andy & JSeery
If the box is in good shape, adjusted well, etc, how do you drain the old stuff out?
I understand the kerosene trick for flushing, but am unclear on the drain proceedure.
Thanks
Jim

As far as I know the only way to drain the box is to remove the lower cover (after removing the light control switch on pre-40). Would have to keep track of shims and recheck the bearing load!

[JM 35 Sedan]

Originally Posted by SuperDave

My experience has been that Ford steering boxes are "self draining".. sorry.. I couldn't resist!

Yes, they actually can be self draining, and I had this very problem on my Avatar, Rouge Class, original 35 fordor sedan. I did not care to pull the complete steering column, and go through a hassle one week before leaving on a long driving tour, of rebuilding that box just to replace a mickey mouse cork seal that should never had been designed that way in the first place. I don't know what Ford was thinking on that one, and obtw, the brass tube, that goes up through the bottom of the steering box and shaft, was not broken where it mounts to a steel plate. Anyway, I filled that steering box with John Deere Corn Head Grease and that turned out to be the best move I could ever have made. Leakage stopped dead in its tracks, and turning the steering wheel when parking and while driving was much easier than it ever had been since I owned this car. That was four years ago, and I have never looked back, and have no intentions of removing that steering box just to replace a crappy, poorly designed piece of cork seal. Not gonna happen while I am the caretaker

[David J]

Pretty sure he's talking about the part in the pic . Removing this will allow you to flush the box out . On 33-34 stuff like mine you need to remove a snap ring and fork-spring also . The pre-load on the bearings is done with the top though and not this . Simple gasket on this .

Originally Posted by JSeery

As far as I know the only way to drain the box is to remove the lower cover (after removing the light control switch on pre-40). Would have to keep track of shims and recheck the bearing load!

[Ian NZ]

I sucked the oil out of my steering box by making a adaptor to fit a thin piece of plastic hose so it goes down the side of the worm on the shaft and fitted it to hand suction pump. It would only suck a small bit at a time so it took a while to remove the oil.

[adileo]

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Originally Posted by Kahuna

To Andy & JSeery
If the box is in good shape, adjusted well, etc, how do you drain the old stuff out?
I understand the kerosene trick for flushing, but am unclear on the drain proceedure.
Thanks
Jim

Hi Jim

I read that many folks mixed the STP & corn head grease. Since that (stp) was what was in my box and pretty sure most leaked out. I did nothing (did not drain) just stuck my grease gun tube in the box and pumped till full.

Stay well

Andy

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by adileo

Hi Jim

I read that many folks mixed the STP & corn head grease. Since that (stp) was what was in my box and pretty sure most leaked out. I did nothing (did not drain) just stuck my grease gun tube in the box and pumped till full.

Stay well

Andy

How did you determine "full"?. Seems to me that if you keep pumping, the level will go above the inside tube that the light switch/horn rod goes through and then leak out the bottom into the switch no?. Perhaps this question is better asked of those that install a grease zerk but still.
P.S. just noticed that this thread is in the 32-53 forum and i am referring to a '31 steering box so don't know if what I am asking is relevant.

[adileo]

I have no knowledge of 31. My 39 has a fill bolt on top. I removed it and pumped the corn head grease in until it was full. Easy to see on the 39.

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by adileo

I have no knowledge of 31. My 39 has a fill bolt on top. I removed it and pumped the corn head grease in until it was full. Easy to see on the 39.

So you would pump for a bit, then remove the hose and take a look, then pump some more, take a look and so on? I just looked up a 39 box for a pic and thy are quite a bit different. I appreciate your response. I'll post the question over on the 28-31 forum just to make sure I'm talking apples and apples. . Thanks

[koates]

Hi all, because John Deere corn head grease is not fluid at room temperatures, I heat some up on the stove (wife not at home) in an old soup/fruit can until it is fluid and just pour it into the steering box until the box is full. That way the box is really full with no air pockets. Squeeze the top of the can to make a pourer. Don't mix anything else like STP or engine oil with the corn head grease. It will become semi fluid when the steering box heats up being right next to the exhaust manifold on most old Fords. No more leaks at all in my 34 Ford steering box, and steering is lighter as well. Regards, Kevin.

[SofaKing]

Originally Posted by koates

Hi all, because John Deere corn head grease is not fluid at room temperatures, I heat some up on the stove (wife not at home) in an old soup/fruit can until it is fluid and just pour it into the steering box until the box is full. That way the box is really full with no air pockets. Squeeze the top of the can to make a pourer. Don't mix anything else like STP or engine oil with the corn head grease. It will become semi fluid when the steering box heats up being right next to the exhaust manifold on most old Fords. No more leaks at all in my 34 Ford steering box, and steering is lighter as well. Regards, Kevin.

That is a great idea!

[Licensed to kill]

Originally Posted by koates

Hi all, because John Deere corn head grease is not fluid at room temperatures, I heat some up on the stove (wife not at home) in an old soup/fruit can until it is fluid and just pour it into the steering box until the box is full. That way the box is really full with no air pockets. Squeeze the top of the can to make a pourer. Don't mix anything else like STP or engine oil with the corn head grease. It will become semi fluid when the steering box heats up being right next to the exhaust manifold on most old Fords. No more leaks at all in my 34 Ford steering box, and steering is lighter as well. Regards, Kevin.

Thanks koates. I was thinking along the same line, was going to put some CHG in a bowl and set that bowl in a pot of water and bring that to a boil to melt the grease without risk of burning it, then pour it in the box. I suppose I could nuke some also. Thanks again for the confirmation.

[jimTN]

I found another approach to grease for the top bearing. Tore a Model A steering apart I bought with a bunch of other parts and found the column tube was half full of grease. The gears, bearings, worm all were in like new condition.

[ct1932ford]

Buy mine online! http://www.greenpartstore.com/

[JSeery]

Originally Posted by David J

On 33-34 stuff like mine you need to remove a snap ring and fork-spring also . The pre-load on the bearings is done with the top though and not this . Simple gasket on this .

David brings up a good point, the lower gasket depends on the year of the steering box. I work with mostly later boxes, but I believe the early steering boxes up to 36 use a lower gasket (part number 3592) and the bearing load is adjusted using the upper gasket (part number 3593). 37 and later boxes use the 3953 gasket at the lower position and it is used to adjust the bearing load.

[FlatheadTed]

As a experiment I mixed chassis grease with oil about 3 to 1 On a warm day using a funnel let it slowly fill the box over a hour or so .the boxes is half full and the worm screws it up and lubes the top , Some of the greases I find are to thick such as Penright and it looks like Corn head when its warmed up it should flow a bit .but you judge how much .37 and later boxes need a thinner oil to lub the roller So a mix will work , .I notice some GM cars have a hole in the Colom up near the clamp to put a drop of oil in for the top bearing ,a hole could be drilled there .

[V12Bill]

I used STP to fill the empty box. That was 5 yeas ago, so far no leaks and it steers easily. I also replaced the seal at the sector shaft also.

[Lawson Cox]

Which worked, the new seal or the corn head? We'll never know

[B-nut]

The crud in the bottom of my steering box was beyond belief when after years of carefully topping up the leaky steering box I opened up the bottom to replace that brass tube.So much junk it was a wonder the steering was smooth. So ditto CSArno in post #3 drain the box and clean it out if you have not so yet.Went with John Deere corn head grease and never dripped again.