John Deere corn head grease

W

wrndln

Well-known member
Has anyone used corn head grease in the steering box of a model A? I am having trouble with minor leaks at the bottom of my 7 tooth column I just rebuilt. First I didn't use any sealer, like was advised here by a couple of Fordbarner, but it leaked. I used Permatex to seal the shims and threads on the bottom bolts, but one bolt has a slow leak - I don't know why. I was thinking of using corn head grease, as it is supposed to not leak and lubs well. I pasted in a link to a YouTube video about the grease. It sound great and is only about $4 a 11 oz tube. If anyone has used corn head grease in a steering column, please let me know how it worked.
Rusty Nelson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEwk_sYP6A8
 
I only use corn head grease on my U Joint.. not sure if it should go in the steering box. You may have to heat it up to get it in if you do..
 
I am using John Deere Cornhead grease in the steering box of my 1932 Ford and it is working well, no leaks as yet. I had a bit of a Job removing the 600W oil from the steering box with a suction gun and a thin plastic hose though. It was easy to fill the steering box with the Corn head grease as I just poured it out of the cartridge into the steering box as it was just like extra thick oil, you do not have to use a grease gun.
 
Has anyone used this grease in the transmission or differential of a Model A Ford? What is your experience? Good? or Bad?
Bill Lee/Virginia Peninsula
 
I mix 600W with grease to make the 600W thicker but so it will still flow. Leaks a little but not very much. I have those aftermarket tubes and straight 600W in a couple of my cars. They work really good.
 
Haven't tried it in the Miss Frances (1930 ccpu), but it is a well known steering gear fix for Farmall Letter series tractors from the 40's and 50's.
 
Penn-Rite steering box lube, comes in a bottle. Available from Restoration Supply, Escondida, CA. They have an online catalog. About $14 plus shipping. I put in 600w and it all leaked out. Put Penn-Rite in and NO leaks in over a year. JMO
Paul in CT
 
use STP- it leaks out slower than gear oil.......

with corn head grease or any other grease you will eliminate most leaks but also eliminate most lubrication of the steering gears......
 
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OK, So IF, and that's a big IF, I were to decide to put the corn head grease in my U-joint, would I have to clean out all the other stuff in there, or just begin adding it as needed. It currently has that Mystic jt6 in it right now, but I need to add more, I'm sure. (I'm sure there's not a full tube in there)
 
CarlG,
Does your U joint leak? If it doesn't, I would keep using Mystic JT6. If JT6 is leaking, I am not sure corn head grease wouldn't leak also, as JT6 is very thick compared to gear oil. I was concerned about the steering column with Mobil 680 gear oil in it with a very slow leak. I hate leaks! It is the only thing that leaks on my newly assembled chassis (so far anyway). I think corn head grease would work pretty well in the transmission and differential as well as the steering box after seeing the YouTube video. I just checked with a local John Deere dealer and they have corn head grease for about $3.50 an 11oz tube - not to bad.
Rusty Nelson
 
You do not eliminate lubrication with corn head grease. While it is a grease, it is continously in a state of flux; turn the wheel and the grease settlles back into the air pocket created by the movement of the worm and sector. It works great. I have used it for years. In one instance the leak was so bad that the corn head grease still oozed out over time. Other than that, it has been great.

Mike
 
Ah, the old "my steering box leaks so I drained the oil out and put grease in" discussion.

I have to ask, if this is the logic being used, do you do the same when your oil pan or rear main leak? Drain the oil out and pump grease in? Is this the solution to an oil leak on a device engineered to use oil?
 
MrTube said:
Ah, the old "my steering box leaks so I drained the oil out and put grease in" discussion.

I have to ask, if this is the logic being used, do you do the same when your oil pan or rear main leak? Drain the oil out and pump grease in? Is this the solution to an oil leak on a device engineered to use oil?
Click to expand...

MrTube, you have been a member of this forum long enough to know that alot of people would rather find a quick fix then a proper one.
 
Rusty,

If it makes you fell any better I have gone through the same process as you and still have a very small leak (using 600W). I plan to take the column out and address it this winter. At least you were wise enough to test/fix the isuue before you installed the column in the car which is what I did :(
 
Hunter,
I think I have the problem with the leaky bottom bolts fixed. It was a very easy solution and didn't require the column to be removed. At least it hasn't leaked for two weeks and running. Earlier I had put Permatex #2 on the surfaces of all the shims, the bottom plug and all the bolt threads and side plate. The very minor leaking was from the two bottom bolts. I removed the bottom bolts that were leaking and wrapped about 12 to 15 rounds of heavy cotton thread around the bolt just under the head. I then slid on the lock washer and then wrapped around the same amount of thread below the lock washer. I put some Permatex on the thread wrappings and reinstalled the bolts. I did this to both the bottom bolts as they were the only spots the oil was coming from. I was going to use cornhead grease, by maybe now I wont have to. If it starts leaking, next will be cornhead grease in the steering box.
Rusty
 
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