Author	[Modern View]
nondem 07-31-2012 05:54:00 67.220.79.36 Report to Moderator	I was doing some light-mowing with my 1950 Front Mount the other day and the steering decided to do it's own thing. It's had some "slop" in it for a while but worked well enough...as I was mowing, turning left I noticed it bind and pop a little one time but continued to work normally for a while after...then allasudden - it won't turn left anymore. It turns right fine and will return to center(so far) but will not continue to the left. When I turn to the left - the steering shaft "unscrews" and starts to come up out of the dash an inch or so but then stops. I was able to get it back in the yard via differential braking... What am I in for here? I assume it needs a rebuild but thought I would ask. I need to finish mowing before parking it if at all possible so if there is something I could do to make it live another hour or so that would be helpful. [Reply]   [No Email]
6869704x4 08-03-2012 12:10:12 64.185.56.57 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to Breeze Wood, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see Same thing happened to me too. http://ytforums.ytmag.com/viewtopic.php?t=693668&highlight= [Reply]  [No Email]
Ultradog MN 08-01-2012 17:01:15 65.103.0.245 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   What's interesting about those Ford steering boxes is if you replace the sector shafts ( on an 8N and maybe Jube you have to replace them in pairs) the same exact sectors were used all the way up to 1986 or so - Jube, 600, 800, 601,801, 2000, 3000, 2600, 3600, 2810, 4600SU, etc - same part #s. Both PS and manual. The whole column is pretty much identical too though a Hundred box wont fit an N or Thousand. If you learn to fix the steering box on a late 8N you could do the box on an 82 3600 too. Similarly, the PS system on a 55 Ford shares most internal parts with all the smaller Fords till the mid 80s. [Reply]  [No Email]
nondem 08-01-2012 11:06:51 167.95.1.164 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to tired 8n, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see These things are all 60+ years old...what do you expect? :) Working on them is half the fun...don't believe me? Do some work on any modern vehicle and then compare :) [Reply]  [No Email]
jimbo's8n 08-01-2012 08:23:18 198.234.106.20 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Dont feel bad. The exact same thing just happened to me. Time to get rid rid of this 8n and get something more reliable. Everytime I fix something, something else will break. [Reply]  [No Email]
nondem 08-01-2012 05:26:35 167.95.1.164 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Thanks for all the replies...I can always count on you guys Am I right in assuming the hood/steering box has to come off to fix it? [Reply]  [No Email]
Bruce (VA) 08-01-2012 06:39:18 24.125.80.178 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 08-01-2012 05:26:35   " Am I right in assuming the hood/steering box has to come off to fix it? " Yep. Start w/ the steering wheel. There are a number of ways to remove the steering wheel, most of which work & some of which will damage the threads, column or wheel. The best way is a special puller (not a gear puller) that hooks under the spokes; you also need a rod to go inside the hollow steering column to keep the end of it from mushrooming when you screw down on the puller. The acorn nut is not strong enough the let you get away w/ this. Because I don't have a puller, what I do is remove the acorn nut the night before the wheel needs to come off & soak the column where the wheel attaches w/ PB Blaster. The next day, I put the nut back on 3 or 4 turns, get up on the tractor & start pulling/tugging on the wheel. 1 out of 3 times, it comes off. If it doesn't, I get out 2 hammers, a 2 lb & a 4 or 5lb. I place the head of the heavier hammer on the hub of the wheel just where the spokes attach & then start hitting it from the opposite side w/ the smaller hammer. I go all the way around the wheel like that 2 or 3 times. It's called "swagging" the metal. Then, back on the seat for a pull & tug session. The longest it has ever taken me is another oil soak & tapping drill to get one off. The last time I pulled one, it popped off as soon as I started tapping w/ the hammers. Some folks speed the process along by using an air impact tool with a blunt tool in it; they get under one of the spokes and push up. The vibration helps break the rust bond. The hood is the easy part. After you get the 4 bolts off of the dash, remove the wire going to the head lights. Then, w/ the gas off, unscrew the fuel line at the carb. If the tank is full, you should drain the gas out. Then, get a couple of saw horses to put the hood on when you get it off. Remove the two bolts at the bottom of the dog legs. The grill is held in place by to hinges at the top & the dog legs at the bottom. After the dog leg bolts are out, the grill will fall out.....usually on your foot. Pull the hood forward about an inch, then up to clear the radiator neck. It should be easy after that. A helper makes it much easier. 50 Tips [Reply]  [No Email]
nondem 07-31-2012 19:52:37 98.230.12.33 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to tcarlson, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Quoting Removed, click Modern View to see I'm my defense, I kept it lubed and I've only driven about three different 8Ns and they all had what I would call slop. With my limited experience, I didn't - and still don't, know what is an allowable amount of slop. I figured any solution would require removing the unit which would be stupid w/o rebuilding it while it's off the tractor. So, IMO - I was looking at a rebuild anyway...so I got more use out of it in the meantime. [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 07-31-2012 08:05:56 184.233.199.205 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   'probably' a upper thrust bearing.. ( i'd do both plus races if you can afford it and have the time and tools. likely needs sector seals as well.. though you could go back in with 00ep grease and probably call it good with jus tthe upper bearing if the race is serviceable and you are on a $/time budget. figure a 1.5 - 2 hour job unless you hit complications.. [Reply]  [No Email]
R Geiger 07-31-2012 07:18:23 50.39.138.117 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   When my late 50 8n did the same thing it was the top bearing that failed. everything else was good. replaced top and bottom bearings and lube with corn head grease. [Reply]  [No Email]
TheOldHokie 07-31-2012 06:39:39 108.8.17.88 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to Brett Helmkamp, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   Bruce (VA) said: (quoted from post at 09:15:49 07/31/12) " It's had some "slop" in it for a while but worked well enough." That's why it can be adjusted & lubed. Run it long enough w/o adjusting or lubing it and " then allasudden - it won't turn left anymore." Sorta like "I heard the engine knocking, but it wasn't loud so I kept working until a rod came through the block....." "I assume it needs a rebuild" Yep. Pull it down & see if you need sector gears. If not (and probably not) it will be bearings & seals at a minimum. 50 Tips Isn't this usually a ball nut failure? I have the same problem with my Kubby and I suspect I am about to replace the ball nut for the second time. In the case of the Kubby I attribute the problem to the heavy loads the FEL puts on the steering box.... TOH This post was edited by TheOldHokie at 06:49:14 07/31/12. [Reply]  [No Email]
soundguy 07-31-2012 08:03:33 184.233.199.205 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to TheOldHokie, 07-31-2012 06:39:39   i'd say 95% of the time it is the top thrust bearing failed. of all my tractors I have only had 1 ball nut failure... and it wasn't actually a failure.. it was a ballnut so worn that it cocked at an angle on the worm shaft. the pop he heard was likely the bearing cage of the top thrust bearing 'going' and dropping rollers into the sectors. I've rebuilt the steering on all my mechanical box fords ( almost 20 of them now ) 95% of them needed thrust bearings and sector seals. 1 was simply worn so slap out that I needed one sector gear and the wormshaft / ballnut. ( 4 cyl 2000 ) the teeth were worn down to edges you could shave with :) [Reply]  [No Email]
Bruce (VA) 07-31-2012 06:15:49 24.125.80.178 Report to Moderator	Re: Steering fail in reply to nondem, 07-31-2012 05:54:00   " It's had some "slop" in it for a while but worked well enough." That's why it can be adjusted & lubed. Run it long enough w/o adjusting or lubing it and " then allasudden - it won't turn left anymore." Sorta like "I heard the engine knocking, but it wasn't loud so I kept working until a rod came through the block....." "I assume it needs a rebuild" Yep. Pull it down & see if you need sector gears. If not (and probably not) it will be bearings & seals at a minimum. 50 Tips [Reply]  [No Email]