300 U steering box change out need advice

Anonymous-0 · Aug 27, 2014

Ok a couple weeks ago I posted here re: 300u front end issues, tie rods & ends, toe in etc. Found many small issues, fixed what I could. BUT, found the really big deal is this: the steering box itself is coming apart; i.e. the right half is rotating around the left half, only held by one bolt. This is why it will point off and can't see it from the seat. I guess the greasy slop should have been a clue.
I have another unit ready to drop in. I read between the lines here that this steering system is weak and picked one up at auction.

So, how to pull the steering wheel?
Are the pitman arms going to come off?
Repairing wollarded out holes in the deck for remounting-how? braze, weld helicoil?

Any advice welcome, will probably do this weekend if rainy
thanks
dave

MarkRobke · Aug 27, 2014

I believe you can use a jaw type puller on the steering wheel.You can whack the rounded side of the pitman arms with a big hammer and they should pop off;I believe there are chisel marks on their face for alignment.On mine I don't remember having to helicoil the mounting holes, but that would work well if needed.I do remember using soft locktite on the mounting bolts.Congratulations on finding a box!Good luck,Mark.

big fred · Aug 28, 2014

Steering wheel is splined. Once you get past the initial rusted or seized point, it will come right off. Pitman arms should come right off as well. Don't recall if they are splined or keyed, but since that is half of the steering adjustment, I would guess splined. Helicoil in the deck should fix the wallowed out hole problem.

Once the steering wheel is off, you need to unhook the throttle lever in order to get the dash off. That was my biggest hassle when I did it, because my hands are too big to comfortably get at the cotter pin at the bottom of the throttle lever shaft. Lift the dash off, then remove the gas tank to get to the steering gearbox. Good luck.

big fred · Aug 28, 2014

BTW, if you elect to replace your drag links, it has the same thread and taper as an old Ford car/truck. You can either spend a ton of money getting salvaged drag links or you can get pretty much the same thing for a little less brand new from Speedway Motors, but you'll have to know the length of the drag link before you order it.

300 U steering box change out need advice

Anonymous-0

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MarkRobke

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big fred

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big fred

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