Time For Grease

RalphG

RalphG

Well-known member
In the 52 Merc steering box. I filled it with oil last night and I see today a lot of that oil has leaked out the bottom of the steering gear box. I know JD corn head grease has been recommended here before but what about plain old multi purpose grease that I use on everything else?
And is there something I should be considering tightening up on the steering box? It does not seem to have a lot of steering wheel play although I have not yet crawled underneath to check for end play in the shaft it is leaking around.
 

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It needs to be a high pressure lube that is designed for shear forces. Not just axle grease.
 
I would suggest NOT use multi purpose chassis lube in your steering box. Just saying....that is not the best way to go.
 
I took the oil fill plug out and tapped it to fit a grease fitting. Then you can pump Cornhead grease in. If you want to keep the car Concourse, make a new fitting and only use the grease fitting when needed.
 
^^ I don't think Ralph is looking for concourse. I have a grease gun filled with an equivalent of cornhead grease. I just poke it in the steering box filler and it is runny enough to just flow in and fill the steering box. You don't want to use regular grease, Ralph, it will get pushed away from the moving parts and leave them starved of lube.

Mart.
 
Mart said:
^^ I don't think Ralph is looking for concourse.

You don't want to use regular grease, Ralph, it will get pushed away from the moving parts and leave them starved of lube.Mart.
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Times two, chassis lube will just sit where it ends up. Being squeezed from between the gears, they will run dry. While the insides of the gear box will be protected from rust.;) But not the wear surfaces.:(
 
A bones said:
Times two, chassis lube will just sit where it ends up. Being squeezed from between the gears, they will run dry. While the insides of the gear box will be protected from rust.;) But not the wear surfaces.:(
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Thanks all for the feedback on the steering box grease. Maybe I will hold out for the corn head grease and visit the JD dealer.
It makes me wonder, why are we not using this same grease on wheel bearings? I often find they have thrown off their grease all over the inside of the hub and are almost running dry.
 
I've fought a leaky steering box for years and was looking to switch to cornhead grease. But I wonder if long term, the sector shaft bushings get enough lube with CH grease? I can believe the worm and roller would be fine but the bushings are a relatively tight fit, I worry that grease will flow out along the shaft? Anyone with long-term experience?
 
Ralph, I think that in wheel bearings the hub gets warm enough in use (with brake usage for example) to flow the grease out. That wouldn't happen normally in a steering box.

Mart.
 
You can order the cornhead grease online - picked up a few tubes for spares and filled my steering box with it. No leaks whatsoever.

D
 
corvette8n said:
Hey Ralph watch this
https://youtu.be/UEwk_sYP6A8
Some urban JD dealers don't carry it on the shelf, mine had to order it in.
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That was interesting. I've used that grease in a JD lawn tractor transaxle for years since I had it rebuilt. Still working great with no leaks. At the time the JD dealer had the grease on the shelf so I'm thinking I'm not the only one using it.
 
RalphG said:
That was interesting. I've used that grease in a JD lawn tractor transaxle for years since I had it rebuilt. Still working great with no leaks. At the time the JD dealer had the grease on the shelf so I'm thinking I'm not the only one using it.
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I just bought a case of it at my local JD dealer. I use it on the farm equipment as well as the Ford steering boxes. Like a couple of others had mentioned, I made a special fitting with a zerk to fill the box complexly and then swap the correct plug back to the box when done.
 
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