B7100 steering box upgrade

[AKBarratt]

I recently bought a well used B7100 (70's) and after removing it from the collapsed barn it was in and got it home, I spent hours reading on this site about how to fix the steering box. It was apart when I got it with bad top and bottom bearings.

Without too much trouble I got it back together but the Ballnut thing was a little rough. Not bad, but bad enough. It came apart after about 10hours of moving snow and topsoil. I had an idea.

I had just upgraded by daughters CJ3B to saginaw steering and had the old Ross steering box laying in the shop. It has no ballnut to come apart! it has the shaft on the other side but the steering shaft enters near vertical and turned around (from in the jeep) it all swings the right way. It requires building a mounting bracket and removing a small amount of the mounting flange from the box. The ross shaft is hollow and the ID is the same as the OD of the Kubota shaft (fits nicely).

I am not quite finished but enough to know it's gonna work. These steering boxes have got to be stronger than the Kubota piece, and while I am cutting the column and the draglink, it doesn't modify the tunnel. They are also routinely cast off by Jeep guys, so should be cheap.
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[Egon]

Nice ! :thumbsup:

Rebuilt the one on B7100 three Times.

 

[KubotainNH]

Good job, should be interesting to see how well it works for you. Similar turns lock to lock etc.

 

[AKBarratt]

Well, this worked out. The willys box needs slightly more effort than the Kubota box did, but has a longer steering arm and a bit more throw than needed. I may shorten the arm to reduce effort and throw. Power steering may be in the works anyway, and a steering valve (forklift) and ram might replace it.

The box leaked oil a little, so I just tapped it for a grease fitting. No more leaks. Made it through a winter of moving snow anyway.

 

[Egon]

Some of the 1970's or so smaller GM cars have a recirculating ball power steering unit that should install just about like the repair shown.

Keep in mind that the b7100 HST pump only puts out around 3 gpm which makes the hydraulic system slow. You may have to add a dedicated pump for the power steering.

Note: there are threads here on how others have installed power steering.

 

[AKBarratt]

Yeah, I think the 3gpm is enough. I have an offroad buggy that has an orbital steering valve and 2in double ended ram for steering. The pump for that is a hot-rodded gm pump that makes just over 3gpm, at around 1300 psi. I have a crank mounted pump for the FEL so the only other thing on that circuit is the 3pt.

I should be able to do it for about the same cost as the power assist ram others are using. I would likely have to buy one of those new, as there are very, very few boneyards around up here with tractor parts. Plus, I like the idea of less linkage...

 

[AKBarratt]

While this setup was working ok, I have sold the Kubota and the new owner and I are adapting a hydraulic setup off a 60's Case 530 to it.

I replaced the Kubota with a 69' Case 580, I'l miss the little guy.

 

[Kent in Wylie]

I have a '70s B7100 with the same problem. Fixed it three times and want to try something else. Tractor is too useful to ditch, since I can't afford to spend 10k on a new-ish one. Has FEL and is 4WD.
Found this on ebay Ford GPW Jeep CJ2A CJ3A M38 Willys MB Complete Ross Steering Box Assembly | eBay
Is that what I need?

 

[AKBarratt]

Yep. I think that's expensive for it, but it's the one i used. Are my pictures still showing up in this thread? I can get more if they aren't. Good luck.

 

[Kent in Wylie]

Indeed, it is high for the shape it is in. And it does not appear to have any place for the gear oil to go. Will ask around locally. Live in DFW, does anyone know of a good tractor repair guy around here?