I know this has been posted before, but I've searched the archives and can't find the info I need.

My '50 H steering is quite loose. The U-joints are tight and the sector and worm gear look good, so I guess it's time to rebuild the front end.

Can anyone please post a brief step-by-step for removing and rebuilding the front bolster (it leaks oil like a sieve, so it's full of grease now). Also a list of any parts I'll need would be great.

Thanks in advance for any replies.

Krey
Milltown, Indiana

My bolster shaft was worn bad enough I had to have it turned down and bushed on both ends. Cost $90 but fits like new. Funny thing the lower brass bushing wasn't worn enough to warrant replacement.

I just finished re-doing the front-end on my H. To get the sector gear loose, I jacked up the tractor under the clutch housing - after blocking the rear end so it wouldn't roll, then loosened the nut on top of the sector gear. Leaving the wheels and lower bolster on for weight, I sat a block of oak on top of the sector nut and whacked it with a hammer. About two whacks, it broke loose. I then took the lower bolster and wheels off and removed the shaft out of the upper bolster. At this point, I cheated a little as I needed to repair the radiator also - I took the front bolster off and worked on r/r the bushings and seals while it was laying down. That made the whole repair a whole lot easier. Good luck on yours. FM

I just did my H a few weeks ago. You'll probably want to replace the thrust bearing and spacer while you've got it apart. Those bushings can be a pain; I took an hour and a half to get the top one out. Decided the bottom one looked good.
I researched getting the sector gear loose from the upper bolster on this site's archives; a lot of ideas, none of which I had the right equipment for. I&T manual says,"Using an appropriate puller..." I didn't have that,either. What I wound up doing was leaving the wheels on while I jacked it up, for weight and to catch it, and using a puller with chains to push the shaft. Then I hit the top of the puller with a small sledge.

• Sector Popper

Thanks for the pictures. Got them saved because I have a front end to do on Old Red H.

Could you send me the pictures of the repair on the h? Thanks

Jack up tractor,remove front wheels and lower bolster.Put jack under upper bolster,remove worm gear and sector,let down upper with jack.Replace seals and bushings,upper seal is hard to get at,be careful to start it straight