Steering Box leak

S

Steve Harrold

Junior Member
Hi, I've just rebuilt and fitted the steering box on my 1930 Phaeton.

On filling the box with oil, it soon started leaking into the switch and most places.


The gasket kit had a black rubber washer, about 1" in diameter, and I couldn't work out where this was supposed to go, so wonder if this is part of the problem?

model-a-ford-steering-box-gasket-set-2-tooth-3-pieces.html


All help appreciated

Steve (in England)
 
Steve Harrold said:
Hi, I've just rebuilt and fitted the steering box on my 1930 Phaeton.

On filling the box with oil, it soon started leaking into the switch and most places.

Steve (in England)
Click to expand...

SeaSlugs said:
should use the lower plate with the tube attached - stops most of the light switch leaks.
Click to expand...

I agree with SeaSlugs. The Lower Plate with the tube does a great job stopping the leak at the bottom of the steering box https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/steering-housing-end-plate

But what do you mean by "Most places"?
 
SeaSlugs said:
should use the lower plate with the tube attached - stops most of the light switch leaks.
Click to expand...


Thanks

I'm using end plate with tube, and there's a paper gasket between the end plate and the housing. I think the oil's getting out there, but need to clean and watch it closely to see where it's escaping from
 
Y-Blockhead said:
I agree with SeaSlugs. The Lower Plate with the tube does a great job stopping the leak at the bottom of the steering box https://www.snydersantiqueauto.com/steering-housing-end-plate

But what do you mean by "Most places"?
Click to expand...


Thanks


It's not easy to see where the leak is, but the switch had a lot of oil inside it, and oil was dripping around the box. Will clean it up and refill and see if I can work out where it's busting out. I've been advised to use 600W oil, not grease, but it seems others don't share this idea.
 
Steve Harrold said:
Thanks


It's not easy to see where the leak is, but the switch had a lot of oil inside it, and oil was dripping around the box. Will clean it up and refill and see if I can work out where it's busting out. I've been advised to use 600W oil, not grease, but it seems others don't share this idea.
Click to expand...

Put the 600 in and if it doesn't leak your are fine (your seal works). If it does leak, drain the box and put the grease in it. I have always used grease.
 
Thanks for all of your answers. After a number of non-auto related distractions I decided to take the steering box out of the car and get it on the bench, to see what's leaking. I have an end plate with the 'non-leak' tube on it, which seems OK (no holes or splits) and is about 6" long, so goes way higher than the level of the oil filler hole. On putting a even a relatively small amount of oil in, it starts to drip down the inside of the tube. It seems to me that it must be getting over the top of the tube, even though the level in the box is low. It carried on dripping for over an hour. I have ordered some Corn Head Grease, as this is getting tedious, but I can't fathom how the oil is getting up to the top of the 'non-leak' tube. Humph!
 
The "non-leak" tube isn't leaking is it? Crack or hole??

Also, when you do find the leak remember to install the 'o' ring that Tom mentions on the sectors shaft (another common spot to leak).
 
If you filled it with 600 before you put it in the car, the oil could have gotten in the tube and continued to leak afterwards for some time. I had this problem, and it finally quit dripping.
 
I may be just a whipper snapper to you guys, but I do know one thing: Model A's leak. If you lube it the way Henry wanted it done, they leak. Hence the rear main bearing janitor sold by most part houses. I tried 50/50 600w and STP with the tube plate and had the same results. I used the corn head grease in there and there were no issues. Im pretty sure if Henry had the availability to use what we have available today, it wouldn't be 600w.

Just my two cents.
 
I have a 1929 7-tooth steering box. It has a modern "Zerk" fitting on the housing. How the heck are you supposed to get oil in the thing? Grease I can understand, but I don't have a grease gun for oil. (?)
 
I use an old 60 CC syringe left over from when we milked cows to fill steering boxes with 600W oil. Works well. You can get them from any large animal veterinary clinic.
I use corn head grease for corn heads here on the farm. Corn head gear boxes spin fast and build up a lot of heat, which causes the corn head grease to liquefy and lubricate. Upon cooling, the hot grease then solidifies back to grease and does not leak out of the gear box.
Model A steering boxes don't turn fast or get hot. So am wondering how effective corn head grease is in a steering box?? I honestly don't know, but if it's working for you guys, then it must be OK. I still use 600W with a lower plate tube so it doesn't leak.
 

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