stearing gear box rebuild tight stearing

[jparasho]

I have almost completed my steering gear box rebuild but I am finding that when I tighten the shaft column bolts the steering is very tight. I have put the same number of shims back in the same way they were disassembled . the steering seems fine when these bolts a loosened a little. do more shims ever need to be added when you use a new steering shaft, thrust bearings and ball nut joint. everything else seems to work properly. thanks for helping a newbie jim

 

[Apogee]

Hi Jim,

Welcome!

The short answer is yes, likely you need to add more shims. Something is slightly different and you need to set the end play so the shaft isn't too tight.

Hope this helps,

Steve

 

[jparasho]

thanks for the info unfortunately it will be a few days before I will be able to get more shims unless our local dealer has them. I was hoping to get mowing later today but that's how it goes sometimes. I was also wondering if some sort of gasket made of a thin sort of product would work in place of these shims. I guess I could try this until I get the shims but I would not like the aspect of breaking it down again. it seems thing like this only happen on the weekends when parts are unavailable. thanks again jim

 

[BadDog]

No idea if it helps you or not, but the gear box on my Ford 905 auger apparently uses gasket stacks as shims for both the main shaft and pinion end play. Of course you can't get them any more. The pinion won't be much trouble, but the main top plate is sort of like a differential cover, so that will be fun trying to set end play with shop made gaskets.

 

[jparasho]

thanks russ


when I do get the shims I will be guessing on which sizes to put in also.
the parts diagram shows 5 different thickness on the shims and I have
no way of knowing which thickness the 2 shims that were on my box
originally are. my guess is that I will be assembling and disassembling
this box several times. I don't know if there is set pattern or formula
for setting these shims up. I don't know if this is normal but the shaft
collar and the plate that the oil seal and bearing race has been welded
together which made getting the worn old race out very difficult. does
anyone know if this was normal in these older models.


thanks jim

 

[freewheel3]

The shim thickness required should be the same as the amount you need to loosen the bolts. If that helps.

 

[Apogee]

Jim,

Per the manual:

1 - Remove steering wheel cap
2 - Set dial gauge on steering post
3 - By moving steering wheel up an down, measure the gap between it and the thrust ball bearing.
4 - If play is excessive, adjust with shims.

Allowable limit - 0.0118 inch

Yes, you can make shim material out of gasket material or something similar. However, they use steel shim material because it doesn't compress.

Good luck,

Steve

 

[jparasho]

thanks for all the help and information related to my problem. I will
try to get extra shims at my local dealer tomorrow. if they do not
have them in stock I am going to order from messicks.

thanks again jim

 

[kubotasam]

When I needed shims for my B7100 steering rebuild. I took one of the metal shims and scanned it into my computer. I then printed several different thickness of paper and card stock. I cut them out and was able to complete the rebuild.

 

[Russell King]

If you have trouble with getting the shims you may be able to make them from plastic shim stock. Both Grainger and McMaster Carr carry something like the attached. I think NAPA has brass material shim stock.

Good luck

http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/ww...e=true&toolbar=true&CatPage=3373&Catalog=main