steering problems

The FO-4 has a routing to go through that checks the wormshaft end play and bearings but you can adjust the sector shaft this way. Set the wheels straight ahead, drop the drag links off the steering gear arms, loosen both adjusting screw locknuts, and back out the right side adjusting screw several turns. Then, turn the left side screw CW until there is no no end play in the sector shaft the right steering arm is hooked to. Hold the adjusting screw and tighten the lock nut. Turn the right side adjusting screw until there is no end play in the left side shaft. Hold the adjusting screw and tighten the lock nut, put on the drag links, and you"re good to go.

I have lube the box since then. I guess you"re suppose to do that before you adjust the gear.

All this is in the FO-4 w/pics.

The steering sector shaft bearings are gone bad along with the one you can see on top. The one on top under the steering wheel is not the one that is causing it to be hard to turn however. There are two bearings on the sector shaft itself. One at the bottom of the sector and one at the top of the sector. This is the part that is in the steering box that moves the two pitman gears that move the two pitman shafts that move the tie rods.

You will have to remove the steering wheel. Then the hood. Then the battery box and the steering box and dash support along with all the wires etc that may keep you from being able to pull the dash from the steering sector assembly.

It is best to take the steering box completely off the tractor so that it can be cleaned good and be sure that all the old broken bearing parts are removed from the housing. Replace both the bearings and the bearing cones. Don’t let anybody sell you on using the Nylon replacement bearings. They are no good and it will still take both hands to turn the thing after you re assemble it if you use them. Use only the ones made of steel that are designed for the Ford steering sectors.

When you re assemble the assembly you should fill the whole sector with grease and not oil. The top bearing will always be the one that fails because it never gets any lubrication if it is filled with oil. The filler hole in the steering should have been above the bearing for it to have been awash in oil all the time like the bottom bearing is.

You can drill a small hole in the sector shaft housing just under the steering wheel hub and pour oil into the sector and onto the top bearing if you think it is necessary. Pouring oil down the hollow shaft will not put oil on anything but the hollow shaft as it is not open at the bottom.

If you don’t take the two pitman gears out of the sector you won’t have to worry about timing them. If you do remove one or both you will have to be sure that they are properly timed to one another upon re assembly.

The sector gear must also be timed to the pitman gears. If you play with it and observer the relationship of the gears you can get it back in time before you put the sector shaft cover back on top and torque it down. Be sure to check it for proper timing before you put it all back together on the tractor.
Zane

• Steering lube

That's what my service bulletin says.

Willy S

So it looks like maybe 1/2 the 52 8n's are filled like you said but not all.

HTH, Willy S.

I have a copy of a Ford Service bulletin dated in Mar? 1950 that describes the discontinuance of the behind the dash panel steering tube fill'em-up plug. And advises hence forth ALL late model 8N steering gearboxes (post 216xxx) be filled by using the secret bottom of the righthand sheetmetal attach bolt hole fill'em-up..... ...respectfully, Dell

Hows yer jollies now?

Here's a pic of the infamous hard-to-get-to 1/8" pipe plug on the upper left side of the box hidden under the dash suport bracket:

So in April of 1951 the "service letter" said that plug will be discontinued, filled up with metal and now you could use...you ready for this?....the new cap screw location pictured here:

This is a much easier to-get-to filler plug. Here's a copy of what the "service letter" said:

LETTER No. 1-T-5
PAGE No. 1
DATE April 20, 1951

STEERING OIL FILLER PLUG 8N TRACTOR

The oil filler plug on the new steering assembly (8N 3503 B) has been discontinued in production. The hole is filled with metal, completely sealing it. Consequently, it is necessary to use the cap screw on the right hand side, which secures the instrument panel support to the steering housing, when putting lubricant into the steering assembly. The housing should always be filled to the level of the cap screw hole to insure that the top bearing (8N-3571), receives lubrication.

It is recommended that multipurpose S.A.E. 90 gear lubricant be used to fill the steering assembly when the level falls below the cap screw.

HTH,
Willy S.

Did ya gittchur jollies?

Soundguy