In Reply to: Leaky steering box? posted by Travis on February 25, 2020 at 10:46:36:
There’s no need to apologize Travis, that’s why we’re here –to help out each other. The N-Series steering boxes often end up leaking mainly because they get so much wear and very little maintenance. Replacing seals, bushings, and bearings is not an easy task. Removing the steering box and rebuilding it is time consuming since many parts need to be removed first before you pull the box off. Farmers were lucky if they even lubed the box at all. The old adage ‘if it ain’t broke don’t fix it’ should be the poster child for a steering box. The early 8N steering box is the OEM Saginaw Steering Gear style and is a PITA to rebuild. Nevertheless, you have two choices. Elect to yank it and rebuild it or just keep it clean and live with it. Now, the early 8N Operator’s Manuals show the steering box to be lubed by removing the acorn nut on the steering wheel and pouring oil directly down the shaft. DON’T DO THAT! If your seals and bushings are worn, you will only end up with a mess of oil all over. There is a plug on the RH side of the gear box, located behind the dash. The early box uses an NPT plug with a screwdriver head. The late box uses a 7/16-14 hex bolt. Either way, filling the box with gear oil requires a special technique. There is a better way. See my D-I-Y article from our HOW-TO’s forum for those methods. Some of us use Cornhead Grease too to fill the gear box. See if this helps…
OEM FORD OPERATOR’S MANUAL – JULY, 1947, LUBE & ENGINE M’TCE:
This is page 38 from the early 8N Owner’s Manual. Note the upper LH picture shows steering gear box lube to pour oil thru the shaft from the acorn nut. Don’t do this; it will only leak all over if seals and bushings are worn.
Tim Daley(MI)
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