Ford 630 steering repair

3family5 · Mar 11, 2017

Anyone know the trick to successful sector shaft install?

I am attempting to replace the left side steering sector shaft. The adjusting screw fits into a slot on the end of the sector shaft, and has to thread into the shaft cap. As the shaft fits into a bushing inside the cap, and the adjusting screw has to be threaded into the cap as the shaft starts into the bushing. For the life of me I cannot get the screw to line up and catch the threads while inserting the shaft into the bearing...

John Smith8N · Mar 11, 2017

First, thread the adjusting screw into the cap to make sure it will thread in smoothly and hasn't picked up a burr or hickey on the threads during disassembly. Once you've verified that, insert the shaft into the housing so it's in time with the front shaft (centered on the teeth). Put a small gob of sticky grease in the slot on the back. Insert the adjusting screw in the slot so it's centered and the grease will hold it in place. Put the side cover in place so that the adjusting screw lines up with the hole. Take a narrow screwdriver that fits thru the hole and start turning the screw counterclockwise so it threads into the side cover. The side cover will pull into place as the screw threads in.

3family5 · Mar 13, 2017

Thanks! That did the trick!

(quoted from post at 15:31:22 03/11/17)
First, thread the adjusting screw into the cap to make sure it will thread in smoothly and hasn't picked up a burr or hickey on the threads during disassembly. Once you've verified that, insert the shaft into the housing so it's in time with the front shaft (centered on the teeth). Put a small gob of sticky grease in the slot on the back. Insert the adjusting screw in the slot so it's centered and the grease will hold it in place. Put the side cover in place so that the adjusting screw lines up with the hole. Take a narrow screwdriver that fits thru the hole and start turning the screw counterclockwise so it threads into the side cover. The side cover will pull into place as the screw threads in.

3family5 · Mar 23, 2017

Thanks, John, sticky grease was the trick! Concerning aligning the gears:
I adjusted steering to that the right side wheel was as straight ahead as the eyeball could discern, lined up the middle gear on the shaft with the gear in the box. Now when I attach the pitman arm to the left side, the wheels are significantly out alignment. Is this normal? Are there some sort of alignment marks that I need to line up in order to get the gears aligned correctly? Or do I just need to center up the steering as best I can and re-align the front end?

John Smith8N · Mar 23, 2017

(quoted from post at 19:40:32 03/23/17) Thanks, John, sticky grease was the trick! Concerning aligning the gears:
I adjusted steering to that the right side wheel was as straight ahead as the eyeball could discern, lined up the middle gear on the shaft with the gear in the box. Now when I attach the pitman arm to the left side, the wheels are significantly out alignment. Is this normal? Are there some sort of alignment marks that I need to line up in order to get the gears aligned correctly? Or do I just need to center up the steering as best I can and re-align the front end?

You likely have it a tooth off center. The steering box sector gears need to be timed with each other. It's as simple as counting the teeth and aligning them in the center of the tooth count. For the forward sector (right side) to time it with the ball nut, count the teeth and mark the center. The ball nut has 4 teeth and the sector has 4 female spaces to mate with them. Correctly installed forward sector -

The rear sector (left side) has seven teeth. Mark the middle one on the sector and mark the middle of the matching teeth on the rear side of the front sector. Then drop it in. Some will have dots or other marks indicating the center tooth. Correctly installed rear sector -

When they are in time with each other, everything will work correctly with the front wheels.

.

3family5 · Apr 5, 2017

I'm down to the last bit but cannot figure out how to get gear oil into the very small fill hole. Any suggestions?

(quoted from post at 12:29:04 03/23/17)

(quoted from post at 19:40:32 03/23/17) Thanks, John, sticky grease was the trick! Concerning aligning the gears:
I adjusted steering to that the right side wheel was as straight ahead as the eyeball could discern, lined up the middle gear on the shaft with the gear in the box. Now when I attach the pitman arm to the left side, the wheels are significantly out alignment. Is this normal? Are there some sort of alignment marks that I need to line up in order to get the gears aligned correctly? Or do I just need to center up the steering as best I can and re-align the front end?

Click to expand...

You likely have it a tooth off center. The steering box sector gears need to be timed with each other. It's as simple as counting the teeth and aligning them in the center of the tooth count. For the forward sector (right side) to time it with the ball nut, count the teeth and mark the center. The ball nut has 4 teeth and the sector has 4 female spaces to mate with them. Correctly installed forward sector -

The rear sector (left side) has seven teeth. Mark the middle one on the sector and mark the middle of the matching teeth on the rear side of the front sector. Then drop it in. Some will have dots or other marks indicating the center tooth. Correctly installed rear sector -

When they are in time with each other, everything will work correctly with the front wheels.

.

Keith Williams · Apr 5, 2017

3family5,
I put a grease fitting on mine and filled it full of red grease. LOL!
If you want oil, you could use a grease gun for that too. They also
make oil pumps with tubes on the output.
YMMV
HTH
Keith

Ford 630 steering repair

3family5

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John Smith8N

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3family5

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3family5

New User

John Smith8N

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3family5

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Keith Williams

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