Hi, my 41 merc has a lot of play in the steering, I changed the tie rod ends, and drag link. All of the play is in the steering box. I see an adjustment on top of the box but there is no slot in the bolt in the center. There is a star shaped washer under the lock nut. Anyone know how to adjust this before I start?
41 Mercury steering wheel play..HELP
- Thread starter ntqlvr
- Start date
Mart
Well-known member
Are you doing it right?
You want the steering box in the straight ahead position preferably with the wheels jacked up. Remove the nut and star washer. While turning the steering back and forth past the straight ahead, slowly turn the screw in until some resistance is felt as the steering goes past the straight ahead. Then using your skill and judgement, refit the washer and nut and see if the feel is just the same. If loose, try one flat tighter on the screw, if too tight back it off a flat and try again.
Look to see if the steering wheel moves away and towards the mast as you rock the steering. If there is end play in the worm this must be eliminated by shim removal. You need to remove the play but not make it too tight.
Actually you should check the worm first before messing with the sector screw.
There are probably better written descriptions out there, I sort of winged it a bit, but you get the idea.
You want the steering box in the straight ahead position preferably with the wheels jacked up. Remove the nut and star washer. While turning the steering back and forth past the straight ahead, slowly turn the screw in until some resistance is felt as the steering goes past the straight ahead. Then using your skill and judgement, refit the washer and nut and see if the feel is just the same. If loose, try one flat tighter on the screw, if too tight back it off a flat and try again.
Look to see if the steering wheel moves away and towards the mast as you rock the steering. If there is end play in the worm this must be eliminated by shim removal. You need to remove the play but not make it too tight.
Actually you should check the worm first before messing with the sector screw.
There are probably better written descriptions out there, I sort of winged it a bit, but you get the idea.
Mac VP
Well-known member
We have the adjusting instructions for the 1937-48 type steering gearboxes on our website: http://vanpeltsales.com/FH_web/flathead_steerngear_adjstmt1937-48.htm
If you need parts for the box, we carry a full line of replacement parts for them.
If you need parts for the box, we carry a full line of replacement parts for them.
rotorwrench
Well-known member
If you tighten it up and work it by hand with the the car raised & supension unloaded, you may find roughness in the mid travel position. It's pretty common to have a worn out worm gear. Replacing it is the hardest part but the Gemmer II type stearing gears all basically used the same worm gear from 1937 thru the F1 pickup. The steering shafts are all different lengths between different models and the Mercury parts are harder to find in the complete assembly than some.