9n steering shaft thrust bearings...

I'm replacing the thrust bearings on the steering shaft on my 9N/2N.

It has the early 9N/2N pinion gear with a horizontally split case where the sector shaft rests.

I've been successful at removing the old steering shaft bearings (but find it odd there is no lubrication system for these bearings - that "steering box" case is open to the transmission at the bottom!)

At any rate, the question I've come up with involves the upper bearing cup where it's pressed into the case. It had a concave spacer of sorts installed between the bearing cup and the case. I was able to drive the bearing cup out but I damaged that spacer while doing so.

I don't know if this thing is intended as a spacer, or a grease retaining cup, or what, as it's not listed in the Ford parts list at all.

If it was intended as a spacer it would separate the upper and lower bearing cups by that little amount, would that be a reason for it?

If anyone has this kind of early Ford knowledge, I'd love to hear it!

I've attached a photo of the shaft and its bearing and the (somewhat beat-up) 'spacer' to try to give it some perspective.

Thanks for any help!

I don't think that is a spacer but part of the bearing cup. The steering gear gets lubricated by the transmission oil being slung up in there by the transmission gears. You can get more opinions by posting this in the forum just below this one. It's for the N series tractors.

Without being able to see the entire stack up, it is possible that that piece is a shim used to set the pre-load between the bearings. Pushing the bearing cups close together would limit the end play. :?:

Thanks Jim for your reply.
(I have to apologize for missing these replies - I'm afraid my email ate the notifications!)

Just splashing from the transmission? Oh dear - Doesn't seem reliable enough. If that's the case, then this thing that went under the bearing cup would have restricted the 'spray' a bit, because it narrowed the opening below the bearing.
Curiouser and curiouser.
Thanks for pointing me to the "N" Series forums. Don't know how I missed that.

Thanks.
This 'shim' would push the cups apart some, and make for the possibility of a tighter fit, less play on the top bearing. I'll have to see what kind of free play there is there without it. The lower bearing free play is set with shims on the sector shaft.
At the risk of repeating myself, I'm going to post this question in the "N" Series forum (where I should have put it in the first place).
Thanks again for your reply.

Correction: the lower and upper free play is adjusted with the top of the steering shaft bearing retainer jam-nuts.
If this 'shim' were intended to reduce free play, it would duplicate the function of the adjustment of the shaft nuts.
_()_/

I've moved this thread to the "N" Series forum, here:
[urlhttps://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?p=9212489#9212489[/url]
Please post any responses at that location. Thanks.