Author	[Modern View]
Jetbird 08-04-2012 19:43:06 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Just tore down my steering box. The symptoms which led me to do this were a leak at the steering wheel and excessive play in the wheel. I could turn the wheel counterclockwise about 3/4 of a turn without any resistance, rising up about 5/16" as it went. When I let the wheel go, it would drop back down and turn itself clockwise all the way back to where it started. When I pulled the column housing off and exposed the steering shaft I saw this: What's missing in this picture? The preload "spring" or cupped washer that sits between the thrust bearing and the nut that is staked to the shaft. I found the washer in pieces inside the column housing The staked nut had become loose and that combined with the broken spring/washer allowed the shaft to drop down into the box until the "nut" that engages the sectors hit the bottom of the housing near the lower needle bearing. So I have a new spring/washer ordered along with seals and upper and lower needle bearings which were shot. I just thought this might be of interest to someone who had the rising steering wheel with excessive free play symptoms like mine. [Reply]   [No Email]
Brian Allen 08-18-2012 10:01:48 74.198.87.19 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Jetbird, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Jetbird What the instructions mean: is to tighten until there is absolutely no end play when you move (force) the shaft in either direction. A dial indicator is the tool to do this job. Place it on the shaft so you can record movement, and verify you are able to move the dial (not bottoming out) before you take your measurement starting with the dial at zero. Note: The reason for this procedure is to assure there isn't any pre-load on the bearings which would add effort to turning the steering shaft. When you get to the point that you have "0" clearance stop, and follow the rest of the instructions. HTH Brian [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-19-2012 19:23:29 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Brian Allen, 08-18-2012 10:01:48   Wow, thank you. I will have to do that. Of course I will have to pull it apart first since I just kinda fudged it. It sounds like it must be pretty critical if I'm going to need my dial indicator. I wish my fsm was more specific. Thanks again! :) [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-16-2012 18:10:54 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Jetbird, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Gotta love google. Here's a steering gear question. The FSM states "With the preload washer on the shaft, tighten the retaining nut until all slack is removed. Slacken the nut about 1/6 of a turn and stake the nut to the shaft." OK. So I tighten the nut finger tight then back it off 1/6 of a turn? Or do I tighten it down with a wrench to compress the washer and back it off 1/6 of a turn? Any thoughts would be appreciated. [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-12-2012 06:57:53 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to mike 841, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I don't have a book for cross-referencing seals but I'm sure they exist.. a good counter man at NAPA can look them up for you, typically, from such a book. I find it's easier to google around a bit first these days, for example in this case I searched for C5NN3N739A SKF and it was the first hit, complete with measurements :^) [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-10-2012 18:43:01 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to soundguy, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Probably fine. NAPA should have the SKF/Chicago Rawhide part or could get it for you next day. I'll usually ask them to be sure if it's not an exact match, but I've used SKF seals that were of a slightly different depth in trailer axles before with no issues, and a thumbs up from the counter guy at NAPA. If the seal was deeper than the area it needed to seat into that would be a problem, but if you drive it flush and have 0.05" of space behind it should be no big deal. It'll probably change some day but so far all the SKF stuff I've picked up from NAPA has been made in the USA too. Out of curiosity, what are the measurements of the new CNH seal 86531349? Is it only different in depth? Greg I've never rebuilt a steering box though, so don't [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-11-2012 20:27:03 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Greg Wolodkin, 08-10-2012 18:43:01   I went to Napa online and found the part. Called local store and they had it in stock just like you said. My online cost with shipping was going to be about $26 (could not find it on the forum sponsor's site). Napa price $10. And I don't have to wait for it. Sweet. I was concerned that the new seal might be more of a knife-edge style if I got it at Napa, but it looks exactly like the old one with more of a wide flat tapered sealing surface on the inside where it rides on the shaft. I also got an o-ring from napa on the cheap. Sometimes the local dealer gets a pretty penny for those also. The New Holland parts manual online often gives the durometer and the exact dimensions, which makes for an easy match up. I may try to get more from Napa from now on, if I can figure out how to find the SKF or Chicago Rawhide number cross reference. Is there a book or do you just google it? Thanks once again! This forum is home to some very helpful and knowledgeable people. 8) [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-10-2012 03:06:06 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Royse, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see You may want to post that picture of grease in the bell housing as a separate new topic so that more people will see it. Anyone reading classic view is ignoring this thread by now. I've not torn into a clutch yet, but I'm familiar with the grease cup as my tractor has one. Messicks shows 86531349 as the seal #14. My older parts book shows C5NN3N739A for it if that helps. That one is listed online as SKF Part # 12371 More Info {#5683373, C5NN3N739A, J5683373} Outside diameter=1.7590"; Width=.313"; Shaft=1.250"; Bore=1.752IN Do those measurements sound right? There's also the upper seal E1NN3N632AA which is #35 .. that's the one I've replaced before. Worst case if you have the old seal you could always take it to NAPA and have them measure it up, or if it's marked you can likely read the measurements from it. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-10-2012 18:07:27 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Greg Wolodkin, 08-10-2012 03:06:06   Greg, you are the man. Those numbers sound close. I measure mine at OD=1.750" ID=1.250" WIDTH=.363" It seems like the one you mention should work, doesn't it? p.s. - I will take your advice and repost the greasy clutch area photo in its own topic. Thanks. [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-08-2012 03:52:39 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Mad Farmer, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Does that hose in the first picture go to a grease cup on the right hand side of the tractor? If so, your throwout bearing hunch is likely. Leaks from the rear main seal or the transmission aren't uncommon but that oil would leak out the hole in the bell housing (the one with the cotter pin in it). Greg [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-09-2012 21:27:01 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Greg Wolodkin, 08-08-2012 03:52:39   Greg, yes the hose does go to a grease cup. Hopefully there is nothing more to it than overzealous use of the grease cup. I don't want to go looking for trouble, but I thought it would be wise to float the question and see if there is something I should look at or fix while the steering gear is out. I got the parts for the steering gear rebuild. I got what I could from the forum sponsor and the rest from the local dealer. My only problem so far is the lower shaft oil seal, number 14 in the exploded drawing above. The part number 86531349 seems incorrect. I got the part from the dealer and it is totally the wrong size, but the part number on the official New Holland bag is 86531349. The old seal I extracted has a different part number. I will post the number soon as it may be helpful to others who are trying to get this part. Seems like the New Holland official exploded drawing with part numbers is wrong. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-07-2012 20:24:31 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Jetbird, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   I have another question. When I removed the steering box from the tractor, I noticed that the inside of the bellhousing had greasy black stuff all over the inside of it. Does that sound normal? Check out the photos. I'm hoping that this doesn't mean I have a leaking seal on the transmission or something.... maybe it's just excess grease from the throwout bearing? Please advise. :? [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-06-2012 04:24:59 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to hcoop, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Sounds a lot like my 4000su .. used hard and beat up pretty bad, also had one spindle welded to the steering arm. Had patches welded onto the radius rods so that they wouldn't bend (thereby twisting the axle knees instead.. oops..) I know that the front end parts for the 3400 are more expensive because they are simply heavy duty, just like F350 front end parts are more than F150 front end parts on Ford trucks. I would have thought that the steering box on a 3400 would be the same as one on a 3000 though. Not every parts site lists everything correctly in this department.. sometimes you simply won't find a part listed for a 3400 and you have to know that the 3000 parts will fit, other times you have to know that the 3400 parts were different than the 3000. This forum is a great resource in that way. Regarding the speedi-sleeve, there's a PDF out there on the internet by the name of Steering-Shaft-Seal-Replacement.pdf and if you google for it, it should be the first hit. A lot of folks have had success with nothing but a new seal in the case of minor pitting and/or a small amount of scoring that is barely detectable by running a thumb nail over it. If you can help it, also avoid using the steering wheel as a hand hold to pull yourself into the drivers seat. Hope this helps! Greg [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 08-06-2012 06:54:36 70.56.164.222 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Greg Wolodkin, 08-06-2012 04:24:59   Greg, You are correct that the 3000/3400 steering boxes are the same. Also the 2000,2600, 3600 and the SU models. However, if you look closely at the steering arms they are slightly different on the 3400. Those have a little more sharp bends to them and are a hair shorter than all the other ones. [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 08-05-2012 04:12:45 70.56.166.120 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Jetbird, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   I've not seen one break before. Interesting. I just looked up that warpy washer (they call it a spring) on Messicks.com. $18. Not too bad. Replace the lower seal too while you are in there. #14 in the photo. I would also go through the hyd block. Clean it good with lacquer thinner, blow it out, check the springs, reassemble with light grease. They do get gunk and rust in them. Some guys have trouble getting the springs and plungers back in the right holes. If you do holler. We can help. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-05-2012 12:32:23 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Ultradog MN, 08-05-2012 04:12:45   Thanks for the help and advice. I have ordered all new seals for the whole assembly since I hope not to take this apart again. I think my tractor was used real hard. Another indication of hard use is that the spindles are welded to the steering arms since apparently they must have been breaking the keys all the time. The tractor has a pretty big bucket on the loader. Even looking at the steering shaft, it has some heat marks and grinding marks on it as if it had broken at one point and been welded back together. I will post my progress. [Reply]  [No Email]
Greg Wolodkin 08-05-2012 00:55:22 96.252.121.186 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Jetbird, 08-04-2012 19:43:06   Bummer. How bad is the scoring where the seal goes? When I replaced the seal in my 4000su (it was pushing fluid up through the column) I was able to get away without the speedi-sleeve, and it's holding up just fine more than a year later. [Reply]  [No Email]
Jetbird 08-05-2012 12:28:18 68.112.236.249 Report to Moderator	Re: Ford 3400 steering box teardown in reply to Greg Wolodkin, 08-05-2012 00:55:22   I don't know how bad the scoring is. It doesn't seem deeply scored but the metal is somewhat pitted. I already ordered a speedi-sleeve but I have no idea how it works. Do you? Do I need to turn the shaft down on a lathe or something? Probably not, that doesn't sound very speedi. My nut and sectors had some rust and now some of the teeth are pitted, but I am going to just reuse them and see how it goes. They are way expensive. Greg, since you have one of these same machines, do you know why parts for it are so expensive? Shaft, worm, and nut are over $200. Many parts are twice what they are for other fords. [Reply]  [No Email]