47-55.1 Steering box slop

[TX3100Guy]

Recently, I rebuilt the OEM steering box on my 1953 3100. After the rebuild, I cut the steering column to fit an Ididit column and have completed the reinstall of the steering box and the Ididit column. Today, I finished the project (or so I thought) by mounting the steering wheel that came with the truck (see photo below). However, I noticed that I have nearly 1/4 of a turn of the wheel in slop. That is before the column attempts to move the wheels in either direction. This seems like a lot of play to me and was wondering 1) what is causing this problem, 2) how to remedy it, and/or 3)what steering box alternatives should I consider?



EDIT #1: Has anyone used an off the shelf manual (not power steering) box to replace the stock one? I see several universal fit manual steering boxes on Speedway and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck with one of these.

EDIT #2: If anyone has the OEM steering box that they taken off their truck in favor of a power steering unit and they are open to getting rid/selling it, send me a PM and/or a photo of the unit.

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by TX3100Guy

Recently, I rebuilt the OEM steering box on my 1953 3100. After the rebuild, I cut the steering column to fit an Ididit column and have completed the reinstall of the steering box and the Ididit column. Today, I finished the project (or so I thought) by mounting the steering wheel that came with the truck (see photo below). However, I noticed that I have nearly 1/4 of a turn of the wheel in slop. That is before the column attempts to move the wheels in either direction. This seems like a lot of play to me and was wondering 1) what is causing this problem, 2) how to remedy it, and/or 3)what steering box alternatives should I consider?

Attachment 2271418 Attachment 2271434

EDIT #1: Has anyone used an off the shelf manual (not power steering) box to replace the stock one? I see several universal fit manual steering boxes on Speedway and I'm wondering if anyone has had any luck with one of these.

EDIT #2: If anyone has the OEM steering box that they taken off their truck in favor of a power steering unit and they are open to getting rid/selling it, send me a PM and/or a photo of the unit.

I believe I have self resolved this problem. A buddy told me to look for an an adjustment screw with a jam nut on the back side of the steering box (towards to exhaust manifold side) and sure enough after loosening the jam nut and tightening the threaded screw with a flat bladed screw driver, I was able to remove all the steering slop/play.

[dsraven]

the gears in the box are cut with a slight taper and are also made to fit just a bit tighter in the middle position where the linkage is supposed to be set up when driving straight ahead. this is so you don't have to mind the wheel so much when going straight down tyhe road. it is important to adjust the steering box with the box sitting in the centered position because otherwise, if adjusted fairly tight when off center, the gears can get too tight in the centered position. loosening the lock nut and turning the screw inward pushes one gear into the other through the tapered face on the gear that is attached to the pitman arm. before adjusting it is a good idea to check the pitman shaft for play in the output bushing of th box. play here will not allow a proper adjustment. some of these old boxes have not been adjusted in many miles so the shaft may have a worn spot where the bushing rides as well as where the seal rides and there is likely matching wear on the bushing. I usually grab the pitman shaft and wiggle it up and down and side to side to check how much play there is before doing the adjustment.
another thing to check is the lube level in the box. it's a great time to change the lube.

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by dsraven

the gears in the box are cut with a slight taper and are also made to fit just a bit tighter in the middle position where the linkage is supposed to be set up when driving straight ahead. this is so you don't have to mind the wheel so much when going straight down tyhe road. it is important to adjust the steering box with the box sitting in the centered position because otherwise, if adjusted fairly tight when off center, the gears can get too tight in the centered position. loosening the lock nut and turning the screw inward pushes one gear into the other through the tapered face on the gear that is attached to the pitman arm. before adjusting it is a good idea to check the pitman shaft for play in the output bushing of th box. play here will not allow a proper adjustment. some of these old boxes have not been adjusted in many miles so the shaft may have a worn spot where the bushing rides as well as where the seal rides and there is likely matching wear on the bushing. I usually grab the pitman shaft and wiggle it up and down and side to side to check how much play there is before doing the adjustment.
another thing to check is the lube level in the box. it's a great time to change the lube.

Thank you for the good info. Luckily when I serviced the steering box with new gaskets and bearings, I found very little wiggle or play with the Pitman arm. I did however make a mistake with too thin of an oil in the box and much of it has already leaked out from the bottom threaded fitting and jam nut. What is the appropriate oil/grease to use in this steering box?

[dsraven]

80/90 gear oil seems to ring a bell. A copper washer under the jam nut on the adjuster would possibly help stop that leak. Some pipe thread sealer on the cleaned adjuster bolt threads may also help.

[mr48chev]

A lot of guys run John Deere Corn head grease in their steering boxes. Especially the ones that leak 80/90 https://www.rdoequipment.com/product...PerformanceMax

[rustycars63]

have stock steering column and gear box not using located in Ruidoso n
New Mexico john Bryant 817 368 4941

[TX3100Guy]

Originally Posted by rustycars63

have stock steering column and gear box not using located in Ruidoso n
New Mexico john Bryant 817 368 4941

Send you a PM