Ford 1500 Steering Slop

[Soundguy]

it's a tradeoff for sure. oil.. even 140w or even 300w marine oil.. will slowly leak out of a bad seal.. even in cold territories.

00# grease may weep a bit but won't leak very much even out a bad seal.

00# grease will slowly slump to fill a void as created in the steering box by the sector gear rotating and the ballnut moving up and down... the sticky nature of the grease makes it cling to the gears and lube well.. at the end of the day when the machine is sleeping, the grease slumps back into place to recoat everything for the next work day.

since this isn't a high speed gear box or a tranny or a diffy.. drag from cold lube is a real non issue. The grease won't be freezing.. so that's a non issue as well. I've packed a steering gearbox with short fibre stiff axle grease before... because it was all I had.. ..ie #4 grease..and needed to get a job done..and... with the extreme mechanical advantage a worm setup gives... it really made no difference on the steering.. honestly.. on a 2wd non power stering setup.. grease.. oil.. whatever you pack the box with.. as long as it lubes.. it will be fine... besides.. once you steer lock to lock once.. you open a void, and just have the sticky residue on the worm and gear surfaces anyway.. I'd wager that's less drag than even a light 30w oil bath.

lots of mower gearboxes can also use a 00# grease. my howse 10' mower can use either 140w oil.. or 00# grease. have seen landscape maint equipment that also uses 00# grease in their gearboxes... it's not all that uncommon.. look at the jd application.. their 00# grease is 'cornhead' grease.. as in.. it goes in those header gearboxes...

soundguy

 

[Egon]

[cold lube is a real non issue./QUOTE]

Hmm, in the cold climate's all that stuff seems to turn solid!:laughing:

Them steering wheels turn just a little harder and sometimes you gota wait a few minutes before a manual transmission can be shifted. You might even haft to wait a few minutes before you can release the clutch without stalling the motor.

 

[JC-jetro]

since this isn't a high speed gear box or a tranny or a diffy.. drag from cold lube is a real non issue. The grease won't be freezing.. so that's a non issue as well.

soundguy

I'm sold the key is " high speed". My concern is if you don't create enough heat in the steering box then congealed heavy grease might be stuck to the inside of the case and not do a good job of lubrication.

JC,

 

[Soundguy]

sure.. a cavity is formed on the first movement.. but the grease is a sticky formulation with high film strength.. then it slowly slumps back into place to recoat the gears.. presumably after some running the stering box will be warmed by the rest of the tractor it is bolted to.. even on a cold day.

like I said.. it was good enough for ford back then as a seal leak stop.. and the technology ain't changed any on that mechanical steering box.

plenty of old fords running with greased boxes these days.. and them oldies are likely to outlast their new counterparts

I just did a pto seal and bearing job on my 1955 740. 37$ bought the seal, bearing, wear ring and gasket... all in stock on the shelf at my local CNH dealer... heck.. I can't even find parts for my 98 dodge in stock and on the shelf at a chrysler dealer these days..t then I suspect most of my antique tractors will outlast most of my auto's.. )

soundguy

 

[old1500]

Doesn't snow or freeze that much where I live guys....well...we have gotten more than our normal share of snow the past two winters, but it doesn't last long. I'll likely go with the grease.


I had mentioned this earlier, but it got clouded in the discussion....Anybody been in the front axle to frame connection area of these little monsters? The drawings don't seem exactly clear to me as to what is wearing out causing the slight lateral movement in the axle assembly, but it has to be in that connection. I just hate to tear something down and then wait on parts. Is there a bushing/bushings I need to pre-order? Mine has the adjustable front axle....if it matters.

 

[JC-jetro]

I had mentioned this earlier, but it got clouded in the discussion....Anybody been in the front axle to frame connection area of these little monsters? The drawings don't seem exactly clear to me as to what is wearing out causing the slight lateral movement in the axle assembly, but it has to be in that connection. I just hate to tear something down and then wait on parts. Is there a bushing/bushings I need to pre-order? Mine has the adjustable front axle....if it matters.

Old,

There re two bushings (#11) there as the pic suggests. if it ran dry might cause wear and subsequent lateral movement. There are grease zerks in front and the in the back that I filled it choke full of grease when I bought my tractor. You might be lucky and find a pipe same dia, thickness as the bushing to make your own. obviously need much dis-assembly.

JC,

Look at the attached files as well

 

[old1500]

My 1500 has the adjustable axle also, and the parts look pretty much the same. You can bet that I have tried as hard as I can (including installing a new grease fitting) to get some juice up in there. The back side took it, but the front would not, so something must be galled or rusted together in the front coupling. I bet when I get my lazy butt out there and pull that, I can come up with the bushing or a "customized" something-or-another.

I have been using partspring.com as a resource for parts and diagrams. They do show a bushing in there as part #27 on the 1500 diagram, but do not have it listed for sale. They show the entire unit as a "sump"....but are out of stock.

I think there are some slight differences between the 1500 and 1700, but that connection system looks about the same.

 

[JC-jetro]

My 1500 has the adjustable axle also, and the parts look pretty much the same. You can bet that I have tried as hard as I can (including installing a new grease fitting) to get some juice up in there. The back side took it, but the front would not, so something must be galled or rusted together in the front coupling. I bet when I get my lazy butt out there and pull that, I can come up with the bushing or a "customized" something-or-another.

I have been using partspring.com as a resource for parts and diagrams. They do show a bushing in there as part #27 on the 1500 diagram, but do not have it listed for sale. They show the entire unit as a "sump"....but are out of stock.

I think there are some slight differences between the 1500 and 1700, but that connection system looks about the same.

My bad Old, I dod not even realize I posted 1700 rather 1500. would have been the same effort to post 1500 instead. concept is pretty much the same.

JC,

 

[old1500]

That is a great site you have access to for the parts and diagrams. I can't join it as I am no dealer. Partspring is "similar", but it's open to the public. I have gotten an item-or-two from them.

If you get around to looking close at the 1500...the diagram that I have does not show that pin or shaft protruding from the frame like your 1700 photo does....just shows an opening. The blow-ups show the bushing or plug (one on each side of the frame member).

Post me that one for the 1500 when you want to do me another favor and I will see if it's the same as the Partspring diagram.

 

[Soundguy]

. I can't join it as I am no dealer. .

What about the parts diagram from the new holand website parts lookup section.. that's where i view mine when I'm away from my manuals..

soundguy