Steering gear lubricant HELP ideas??

J

joncrane

Member
I am working on a 1928 phaeton that was" fully restored" when purchased last month.
Have redone the brakes and kingpins so far so it is somewhat tight and will drive straight.
Checked all the fluids and noted that there is an alemite grease fitting on the steering box. Unscrewed the grease fitting and you guessed it...full of grease. Scraped as much out as I could through the 1/4 hole using a pencil and filled what I could with 600 wt oil. Anybody have any suggestions short of pulling the column and taking it all apart? I was thinking of filling it with thin oil, or Marvel Mystery oil, then when it runs out refilling with 600 wt. Open to any ideas??
Thank you
 
As Gary said, it should be fine. They'll mix together and it'll be OK. You should be able to put some in after a few miles.

The grease fitting was put in to easily fill the box with heavy oil. As a kid we had a grease gun filled with very heavy for that purpose. Some folks see that and mistakingly pump them full of grease.
 
Does your 28 also have a grease fitting on the shaft part of the steering arm? My 28 does, and I give that a couple pumps of grease to help seal the shaft, then I fill the steering box with Mobil 636. As mentioned, just keep adding the heavy oil and you'll be fine.

Even if it was filled with Mystik JT6 High Temp red grease I wouldn't worry, because that is a stringy grease that clings well to parts. There is concern that the gears push the grease away from the wear surface and leaves them with no lubrication, but not all grease is that way.
 
Can you ask the pervious owner it they know what grease was used. I've heard that Penrite stealing box lube is a permissible grease to use. If so, it might be OK to leave it in there.
 
I pulled the insert plug on my two-tooth to discover grease! Not sure what type so I proceeded and added about 2-3 oz's of 600 oil. I watched my drip pan closely and it only took about three days for most of the oil to run out on the pan and another two weeks for the rest. I plan on trying Penrite. I havent had a steering box apart in 40 years, it seems to me there's a tube in the lower part...I must be over-filling even though Im well below the insert plug?
 
I use Pennrite and it does not leak.;) Originally I uesd my own brand of "600w" which was a 240w mixed with STP. It still leaked.:eek: I added the
Pennrite into what was left of my mixture. And what was left of my formula leaked out, but the Pennrite has stayed in!:)

Bob-A:D
 
Chuck Sea/Tac said:
Pennrite grease is self leveling, and does a good job in the steering box. Regular grease doesn't .
Click to expand...

I found grease like this once in a tractor steering box and always wished I could find some! I had no idea it (or something like it) was still being produced. Thanks for the info guys!
 
I have used the J D Cornhead grease in several Model A's and a couple Hudsons with great results! no leaks, easy steering.
 
1930marie - the oil is likely leaking out the bottom of the steering box. If so, you can replace the end plate with one that has a tube attached that prevents that oil leak. The parts houses all carry it.
 
Chrysler once had a special "BALL JOINT GREASE"--It was designed to constantly move around. If such is still available, it "might" work well.
Minerva was filled with a clear looking grease, pumped in from the fitting at the bottom of the gearbox, but it had squeezed out around the worm gear. Twice, I filled it with Valvoline Synthetic Multi-Grade Gear oil. The steering gradually got EASIER & EASIER! She would "almost" recover to straight, on her own, after a QUICK SHARP turn & NEVER leaked.
Bill W.
 
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