860 stee gear rebuild

Sorry for the title. Why can't I change that??

Anyway, my tractor came with power steering, but has at some point the cylinders and pump have been removed. Hard lines to the control valve have been crimped Even though it has the control valve in the stack it's just there to take up space.

I've been battling hard steering to the left for over a year now. Steering wheel would try to push out of the column when turning left. Following Soundguy's posts I thought I had bad thrust bearings. I finally took it apart and all the bearings look good. Both needle bearings and both thrust bearings are fine. The thrust bearings for my tractor are ball bearings so there's really not much to fail on them. Sector bushings are healthy and the shafts are tight when assembled. I can't find a reason for the hard steering.

The only thing I noticed is, the bearing lock nut was loose. It appears as if this would explain why the shaft would try to push out of the column when turning left, but still not sure that would cause it to be hard to steer left.

1. Should I just put it back together, making sure the bearing lock nut is tight and staked. What torque do I put on this? I can't find that anywhere in the book. (FO-20)

2. Since I'll likely not try to put the power steering back in service, should I just coat everything in light oil and leave the spindle and plungers in?

3. How does the upper needle bearing in the adapter get lube? Do I just pack it before assembly?

4. I don't plan on taking the side covers off the sector shafts to do anything with that. It all looks healthy and spins freely.

Thanks guys,

-Dave

You can just leave the power steering valve in the stack as a spacer. It will not hurt anything.
Jack up your front end and make sure the spindles are not turning hard. I have seen more steering issues caused by the spindles than the steering gears.

Could you tell if there was a sufficient level
of lubricant in the steering gear housing?

Other members have indicated that Ford issued a
service bulletin increasing the viscosity of
the lubricant since SAE 80 or 90 was leaking
from the seals.

The following link gives suggestions for
filling the steering gear housing to plug level
with the recommended lubricant.
lubrication for manual steering box on ford 800

If you are not going to put the power steering back into service, would you be willing to trade for a non power steering column? Mine on my 860 works as it should, but sometimes my wife drives it and she would like power steering.

Gil

Running the ps column without the pump hooked up would not be a good idea as the thrust bearings are lubed by the ps oil. Without that lube you would wear out the bearings very quickly.
If he isn't going to repair the PS column your plan of swapping with him is a good one. If you make such a swap make sure you also swap the radius rods and the tie rods to go with the column.

Thanks, and will do, if he wants to.

Gil

Hey guys thanks for the replies. Low Flyer I'm going to hang on to this power steering setup. I may someday put it back in service someday.

JD Seller, the rest of the steering linkage moves feely so I'm certain something in the gear/column was binding.

Mike St. Martin, it seems as if the case was pretty low. That combined with the bearing lock nut being loose may be the root cause.

Ultradog MN, I hear what you're saying about the thrust bearing being lubed with PS fluid, but it seems as if whatever residual fluid left in the system has been enough to protect the bearings because they look brand new. It's been running without the pump hooked up for >20 years! I'm probably just going to try to re-wet them prior to assembly and put it back together. I do need to replace a couple of O-rings and gaskets. I see some that are included in sector overhaul kits but I just need the O-rings. Anyplace sell them by the piece?

Not a problem David. I don't blame you, I'd keep it too. But I hope you don't ruin it by using it without hooking it up.

Gil