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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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Steering box question

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mitchp

01-05-2006 06:51:24




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I added some fluid to my steering box, well after a few days i noticed it seeping around the gasket and dripping, would it hurt to fill it up with John Deere Cornhead Grease? Its thick enough not to run out, just wanna make sure it won't damage anything before i do it




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Mr. Farmall

01-06-2006 21:46:06




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to mitchp, 01-05-2006 06:51:24  
I would replace the seals on the steering gearbox I had to do it on my Farmall A and it has been working fine since. I think filling it up with grease is a slopy way of fixing it.



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Hugh MacKay

01-08-2006 03:00:04




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to Mr. Farmall, 01-06-2006 21:46:06  
You apparently don't do much with your tractor. The grease idea came from IH dealers 40 years ago. They rebuilt many of these the proper way as you call it,only to have them back in 6 months leaking as bad as ever. Most of these tractors that went out on commercial farms when new were leaking within 5 years. From there it was a never ending battle keeping them from leaking.

I currently have 3 of these tractors, and have owned 3 others in the past 45 years. Of the 6 only one has never leaked, it's never done anything either. I doubt if my 1963 Farmall 140 has done 500 hours of work since new. I got this tractor two years ago and it had been parked in a heated warehouse for 15 years. Over the years I used these tractors commercially, and in my opinion the sloppy part was having them leaking gear oil everywhere they went. The steering gear box on offset Farmalls was poorly designed and engineered to begin with. The grease was the very best and most economical way to correct this.

I can tell you, when you are running 9 tractors, 4 trucks, combine and all associated equipment, and if 2 of those tractors are offset Farmalls, you don't have time to fool with those steering boxes every time they start leaking. I know of offset Farmalls with steering boxes full of grease, and they haven't been apart in 40 years. They are clean and probably working 300 to 500 hours per year.

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Mr farmall

01-09-2006 22:17:45




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to Hugh MacKay, 01-08-2006 03:00:04  
Because back then they had leather seals which were crap and they probably did not coat the outside of the seal with sealant and that was the main source of leaks and now a days you can use neoprene seals which are much better than the old seals. You do not know much about seals!



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Hugh MacKay

01-10-2006 01:44:21




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to Mr farmall, 01-09-2006 22:17:45  
No, because modern day seals don't work either, and moly grease has been in some of these steering gear boxes for close to 40 years, it is clean, your not taking it apart every 5 years and the steering will stay tight.



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gene bender

01-05-2006 18:39:45




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to mitchp, 01-05-2006 06:51:24  
Why dont you just take it off and rebuild then it will hold the 90wt like it was designed. I have done several for restoration and no leaks.



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Hobo,NC

01-05-2006 15:03:26




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to mitchp, 01-05-2006 06:51:24  
third party image

I tap the plug on the end of the worm gear and insatll a zerk, remove the top fill plug and pump till full. If you add enny more it will jack the steer’in shaft seal out, I know that fer a fact How much grease I dunno but when I saw it come out the top fill hole I wuz smart enough to install the top plug and hit it a few more times It jacked the seal out. I keep the tractor under a shed so don't think I will have enny more trouble with water.

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Hugh MacKay

01-05-2006 09:12:11




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to mitchp, 01-05-2006 06:51:24  
mitch: Drain the gear oil before you add the grease. I take the plugs all out, put a zerk in the fill to level hole. Any Moly grease will work, just keep pumping until it comes to the other ports individually, then replace those plugs. The secret with this is having the steering box full of grease, then any new grease you add will go to worm, gear and bearings. Your initial fill up will require almost 2 tubes of grease. After that I just give it 5 pumps of gun every time I grease the tractor. I have two guns one I keep with moly grease.

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mitchp

01-05-2006 11:00:07




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to Hugh MacKay, 01-05-2006 09:12:11  
hey hugh, what is a zerk by the way? So is cornhead grease the same thing as moly grease? so do i want to pump it in till it has the top plug full (fill plug)?

thanks for all your help



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Hugh MacKay

01-05-2006 13:53:25




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 Re: Steering box question in reply to mitchp, 01-05-2006 11:00:07  
Mitch: The idea is get the steering box full of grease, thus when you add grease it must go to the worm, gear and bearings. The grease is heavy enough that moving parts will just make a trail through it, thus no lubrication would get to the crucial points. Cold weather will have some effect on this, but up here even with sub zero weather steering never gets stiff.

In fact when I started doing this with my Super A, at around 0 F the steering would freeze solid from condensation in the steering box. Now the tractor steers fine winter and summer and I don't have that mess of oil all over the front casting and axle, from the steering box leaking. I suspect it was not all condensation, probably some water following the steering shaft and going by that seal.

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