Ford 860 Steering Gear Rebuild

[dfulford]

Hey guys,

My tractor came with power steering, but has at some point the cylinders and pump have been removed. Hard lines to the control valve have been crimped. Even though it has the control valve in the stack it's just there to take up space.

I've been battling hard steering to the left for over a year now. Steering wheel would try to push out of the column when turning left. Following Soundguy's posts I thought I had bad thrust bearings. I finally took it apart and all the bearings look good. Both needle bearings and both thrust bearings are fine. The thrust bearings for my tractor are ball bearings so there's really not much to fail on them. Sector bushings are healthy and the shafts are tight when assembled. I can't find a reason for the hard steering.

The only thing I noticed is, the bearing lock nut was loose. It appears as if this would explain why the shaft would try to push out of the column when turning left, but still not sure that would cause it to be hard to steer left.

1. Should I just put it back together, making sure the bearing lock nut is tight and staked. What torque do I put on this? I can't find that anywhere in the book. (FO-20)

2. Since I'll likely not try to put the power steering back in service, should I just coat everything in light oil and leave the spindle and plungers in?

3. How does the upper needle bearing in the adapter get lube? Do I just pack it before assembly?

4. I don't plan on taking the side covers off the sector shafts to do anything with that. It all looks healthy and spins freely.

Thanks guys,

-Dave

 

[Soundguy]

I initially thought you had a non Ps system. With a Ps box, if I were you, if get the Ps working or swap to a conventional box.

For help with the Ps valve block, user ultradog is very knowledgeable. I'm fine with the non power boxes, those are easy, just ball it, wormshaft, sectors, bearings, associated front end components, etc

As you noticed, thrust setup between the Ps and non is boxes is different, Ps needs travel to actuate valves

 

[dfulford]

OK. Thanks Soundguy. Can you shed a little light on timing the sector gears? The book keeps calling out gear #4 to mesh with but which one is 4? The full sector shaft is pretty straight forward but the other one isn't so clear.

 

[Soundguy]

there is a dual sector and a single sector. the single sector is the rear one,the dual is the front.

worm gear ball nut engages the dual sectro front. aft of dual sectro engages the single sector.

the book should be telling you to count teeth and mesh at a certain tooth. both arms tend to look a bit swept back and even when you hav ethe sectors timed correctly. plus you want the same number of turns right to left from center.

 

[dfulford]

the book should be telling you to count teeth and mesh at a certain tooth. both arms tend to look a bit swept back and even when you hav ethe sectors timed correctly. plus you want the same number of turns right to left from center.

Yep the book says to count teeth. It was a little confusing which tooth to count from on the 1/2 sector shaft. Knowing what "normal" is (both arms a bit swept back and even) helps a lot.

I have it dry fit now and it looks as you described so I think I got it. Also have the same number of turns from center. Thanks for your help!

 

[Soundguy]

Sounds like you nailed it. Sorry I didn't have the book in front of me to give specifics. I've done so many of those boxes I just line it up by eye anymore.

Is, the shim stack under the column sets the preload on the thrust bearings, shoot for no play, and very little preload and the bearings will be happy.

 

[dfulford]

Sounds like you nailed it. Sorry I didn't have the book in front of me to give specifics. I've done so many of those boxes I just line it up by eye anymore.

Is, the shim stack under the column sets the preload on the thrust bearings, shoot for no play, and very little preload and the bearings will be happy.

Thanks again. I'm a little confused about the shim stack comment though. I'm not seeing it! I have the exploded drawing of my exact setup in PDF but can't seem to attach files here. It's the same exploded found in the FO-20 manual. Preload for the thrust bearings looks to be set by the bearing lock nut. This is the nut I found to be finger tight and I believe is what was causing the excessive shaft movement up with turning left. And, hopefully the source of most of my problems! Please let me know if there's something I'm missing here.

 

[Soundguy]

i keep forgetting this is an ag power box.

it's part # 24, you only nee done on the power boxes as thrust is set differently.

on the manual boxes you use a gasket or shim stack to set preload. on the rowcrops there is an adjuster nut under the box.

so many designs.