and he said his gear leaks, thus telling him to use a gear oil means the steering box will run dry.
To the OP.. go get some #0 or #00 ep grease and pump the box full. If it has a pipe plug filler.. use a large grease zerk, in a bushing if needed, and use that to install the lube.
JD cornhead grease is a ep#0 grease.
Or you can find a chevron or amsoil delaer and get 0 or 00
additionally, and perhaps easier to find. Most small engine (lawn equipment) dealers that service grevely and other golf course equipment likely have or can get 00 grease in 32oz squeeze bottles.. they have tips similar to the 1qt gear oil bottles.
It's a common practivce to put grease in steering boxes.
Back in 1962 ford put out a service bulleting to convert ford manual steering boxes over to 0# grease instead of gear oil to combat leaky seals, which eventually lead to dry bearings and worn steering components.
avoid using #2 gun grease.. it's too thick and will form a cavity and not slump back over the gears like a #0 or 00 will.
even a #1 is still more stif than I would want to use.
In an emergency, you could pump 75%full of #1 or #2 and then add gear oil.. preferably 85/140 or hub oil to it and jack the front up and steer lock to lock continously till mixed down to something loose and sticky.
soundguy