The Ford Barn

Klattu1929 · 06-02-2026, 04:39 PM

I am currently rebuilding a 2-tooth steering column/gearbox. The 7-tooth in my car currently I used Penrite semi fluid gearbox lube. For this 2-tooth I am looking at trying the Millers Oils vintage worm steering box oil, sold on Amazon. Has anyone used this or is it not a good product for the 2-tooth gearbox. Planning to do the swap next winter so thought I would get a jump on the Barn opinions. Thanx.

Jim/GA · 06-02-2026, 05:27 PM

If you are sealing it up well, use the 600W oil you use in the transmission. Use the end plate with tube. The o-ring and flat washer at the end of the sector shaft when you bolt it to the frame helps.

Marshall V. Daut · 06-02-2026, 05:45 PM

I mix a 50-50 solution of 600w and STP oil treatment in a cup and then carefully (and slowly) pour this syrup into the gear box. It's thick enough to help reduce the leakage of 600w by itself and the STP clings to the gear surfaces to keep them lubed.
Marshall

Joe K · 06-02-2026, 05:54 PM

My solution is John Deere Cornhead Lube. https://shop.deere.com/us/product/AN...dge/p/AN102562

Yup. A grease. But probably the most "transitional" grease I've seen.

Joe K

Kube · 06-02-2026, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe K

My solution is John Deere Cornhead Lube. https://shop.deere.com/us/product/AN...dge/p/AN102562

Yup. A grease. But probably the most "transitional" grease I've seen.

Joe K

Joe, like you, that's all I use. I made a fitting with a grease zerk so I was able to easily fill the box. Then, once full, I'd sway the fitting for the authentic plug.

Synchro909 · 06-02-2026, 06:54 PM

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe K

My solution is John Deere Cornhead Lube. https://shop.deere.com/us/product/AN...dge/p/AN102562

Yup. A grease. But probably the most "transitional" grease I've seen.

Joe K

That has also become my go to. I used to use the same Penrite lubrication that the OP mentioned but when I found out about corn head grease, I switched and have never regretted it. I put it into the steering box by using a syringe without the needle.

nkaminar · 06-02-2026, 07:09 PM

I am a proponent of modern 85W-140 gear oil because of the additives that reduce wear. The box must be sealed well and the end plate with the tube must be used.

old ugly · 06-02-2026, 09:04 PM

like above.
cornhead grease. buy it from the John deere dealer it is cheap. pump that in there but make sure all the other oil is out.

thixotropic. turns to liquid state from friction then back to grease when not in friction.

updraught · Yesterday, 12:38 AM

Careful cleaning is needed for cornhead grease.

"Polyurea grease compatibility is highly unpredictable because polyurea thickener chemistries vary widely. While some polyurea greases mix perfectly fine with lithium or calcium greases, many are completely incompatible. Mixing incompatible greases causes the thickener to collapse, resulting in severe oil bleed, hardening, or liquefying, which often leads to bearing failure."
https://www.machinerylubrication.com...-compatibility

Klattu1929 · Yesterday, 11:28 AM

You guys have given allot to think over, I did use cornhead in my u-joint. And I think the tube on the end plate is an excellent idea. I need to do more research on cornhead for the steering box application. I will go by the local Deere dealer and quiz the mechanic. Got a box of 2-tooth parts coming today. Got 6+ months to get the old brain box to make a decision, thanx, guys.

old31 · Yesterday, 04:16 PM

I don't think the deere dealer will know too much about a Model A 2 tooth steering box.

I would just use the cornhead.

Y-Blockhead · Yesterday, 08:09 PM

I use Penrite Steering Box Lubricant. Since it doesn't leak out I probably have enough for the next 25 years.

old ugly · Yesterday, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old31

I don't think the deere dealer will know too much about a Model A 2 tooth steering box.

I would just use the cornhead.

they may not know what a model A steering box is but they will definitely know what Corn Head Grease is. they had a whole rack of it when i bought mine. i think it was under $10.00cdn per tube.

Jim16A1 · Yesterday, 08:17 PM

Does corn head grease get warm enough to actually flow through a steering box that isn’t generating very much heat through friction? My 7-tooth box’s lower bearing fell apart and the pieces aggressively galled the shaft because the previous owner tried to use that stuff instead of gear oil. I’d vote for proper sealing, running gear oil, and using the lower plug with the extended tube.

old ugly · Yesterday, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim16A1

Does corn head grease get warm enough to actually flow through a steering box that isn’t generating very much heat through friction? My 7-tooth box’s lower bearing fell apart and the pieces aggressively galled the shaft because the previous owner tried to use that stuff instead of gear oil. I’d vote for proper sealing, running gear oil, and using the lower plug with the extended tube.

it is not heat that makes it change form. it is friction.

Keith True · Yesterday, 08:21 PM

They will know what it is,but they will know nothing about it.I worked for a JD dealer for almost 5 years,we knew what it was for,and where to use it,but that was the extent of it.Nobody trained us on the different properties of greases.We had no reason to.We did use it in the steering boxes of the 2 cylinder tractors,just seemed to be a practical use for it.We also used track and roller grease in those old steering gear boxes too.

Bob Bidonde · Today, 09:19 AM

I find that no matter how you try to seal the sector gear housing from leaking oil, it fails. Over the years I have found that first adding grease to seal the sector housing, then adding 75W145 GL4 gear oil, leakage is minimized. I drive my Model A a few thousand miles per year, and my technique works.
Model "A" service bulletins have numerous warnings about not using grease in the steering gear box because it did not have enough squeeze-out resistance to keep the gears coated. I suspect this warning was due to the animal fat greases of the time (pre WW2). Greases made primarily of animal fat turned rancid and lost their lubricating property. Modern chassis greases have superior squeeze-out resistance, and I find that they are suitable for use in the steering gear box.
The original designs of the gear box housing and the sector housing had grease fittings in them. However, these fitting were eliminated in 1928. I am adding the grease fitting back into the sector housing, so I can pump grease in-between the sector gear bushings. To do this, I am reversing the attached service bulletin.

Jim/GA · Today, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old ugly

it is not heat that makes it change form. it is friction.

It is not friction that makes it change form. It is shear stress.

See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grease_(lubricant)

Push on it and its viscosity thins. Stop pushing on it and it thickens again.

The base oil will separate from the grease over time and with heat, but that is not the mechanism of thinning when in use.

Grease is very interesting. I know guys that have spent their entire professional careers specializing in its formulation, properties, and application.

Big hammer · Today, 10:47 AM

A little external lubrication keeps the rust at bay ! Black steam cylinder oil (600w ) works well for me in the steering box, transmission, and rearend .

I tried the corn head grease and ended up with a tight steering , dry sector bushings , never again will I use corn head grease in the steering box !

rotorwrench · Today, 11:35 AM

There used to be a video of a gearbox cut away for a viewing window so folks could see how it flows with movement of the gears. I believe it was put out by John Deere. The corn header used by JD has a gearbox with no less than four shafts to turn all the pick up and cutter works in there.

06-02-2026, 04:39 PM	#1
Klattu1929 Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: Washington State Posts: 93	steering gearbox oil I am currently rebuilding a 2-tooth steering column/gearbox. The 7-tooth in my car currently I used Penrite semi fluid gearbox lube. For this 2-tooth I am looking at trying the Millers Oils vintage worm steering box oil, sold on Amazon. Has anyone used this or is it not a good product for the 2-tooth gearbox. Planning to do the swap next winter so thought I would get a jump on the Barn opinions. Thanx.

06-02-2026, 05:27 PM	#2
Jim/GA Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Young Harris, GA Posts: 2,093	Re: steering gearbox oil If you are sealing it up well, use the 600W oil you use in the transmission. Use the end plate with tube. The o-ring and flat washer at the end of the sector shaft when you bolt it to the frame helps. __________________ Jim Cannon Former MAFCA Technical Director "Have a Model A day!"

06-02-2026, 05:45 PM	#3
Marshall V. Daut Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Davenport, Iowa Posts: 2,891	Re: steering gearbox oil I mix a 50-50 solution of 600w and STP oil treatment in a cup and then carefully (and slowly) pour this syrup into the gear box. It's thick enough to help reduce the leakage of 600w by itself and the STP clings to the gear surfaces to keep them lubed. Marshall

06-02-2026, 05:54 PM	#4
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 5,013	Re: steering gearbox oil My solution is John Deere Cornhead Lube. https://shop.deere.com/us/product/AN...dge/p/AN102562 Yup. A grease. But probably the most "transitional" grease I've seen. Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.

06-02-2026, 07:09 PM	#7
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 6,849	Re: steering gearbox oil I am a proponent of modern 85W-140 gear oil because of the additives that reduce wear. The box must be sealed well and the end plate with the tube must be used. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

06-02-2026, 09:04 PM	#8
old ugly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2021 Location: alberta canada Posts: 861	Re: steering gearbox oil like above. cornhead grease. buy it from the John deere dealer it is cheap. pump that in there but make sure all the other oil is out. thixotropic. turns to liquid state from friction then back to grease when not in friction. __________________ old ugly my mom would have told me. "these things are here to test us"

Yesterday, 12:38 AM	#9
updraught Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Australia Posts: 2,288	Re: steering gearbox oil Careful cleaning is needed for cornhead grease. "Polyurea grease compatibility is highly unpredictable because polyurea thickener chemistries vary widely. While some polyurea greases mix perfectly fine with lithium or calcium greases, many are completely incompatible. Mixing incompatible greases causes the thickener to collapse, resulting in severe oil bleed, hardening, or liquefying, which often leads to bearing failure." https://www.machinerylubrication.com...-compatibility

Yesterday, 11:28 AM	#10
Klattu1929 Member Join Date: May 2023 Location: Washington State Posts: 93	Re: steering gearbox oil You guys have given allot to think over, I did use cornhead in my u-joint. And I think the tube on the end plate is an excellent idea. I need to do more research on cornhead for the steering box application. I will go by the local Deere dealer and quiz the mechanic. Got a box of 2-tooth parts coming today. Got 6+ months to get the old brain box to make a decision, thanx, guys.

Yesterday, 04:16 PM	#11
old31 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Posts: 2,686	Re: steering gearbox oil I don't think the deere dealer will know too much about a Model A 2 tooth steering box. I would just use the cornhead.

Yesterday, 08:09 PM	#12
Y-Blockhead Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Redondo Beach, CA Posts: 7,288	Re: steering gearbox oil I use Penrite Steering Box Lubricant. Since it doesn't leak out I probably have enough for the next 25 years.

Yesterday, 08:17 PM	#14
Jim16A1 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2025 Posts: 28	Re: steering gearbox oil Does corn head grease get warm enough to actually flow through a steering box that isn’t generating very much heat through friction? My 7-tooth box’s lower bearing fell apart and the pieces aggressively galled the shaft because the previous owner tried to use that stuff instead of gear oil. I’d vote for proper sealing, running gear oil, and using the lower plug with the extended tube.

Yesterday, 08:21 PM	#16
Keith True Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Epping N.H. Posts: 3,690	Re: steering gearbox oil They will know what it is,but they will know nothing about it.I worked for a JD dealer for almost 5 years,we knew what it was for,and where to use it,but that was the extent of it.Nobody trained us on the different properties of greases.We had no reason to.We did use it in the steering boxes of the 2 cylinder tractors,just seemed to be a practical use for it.We also used track and roller grease in those old steering gear boxes too.

Today, 10:47 AM	#19
Big hammer Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Land of Lincoln Posts: 3,634	Re: steering gearbox oil A little external lubrication keeps the rust at bay ! Black steam cylinder oil (600w ) works well for me in the steering box, transmission, and rearend . I tried the corn head grease and ended up with a tight steering , dry sector bushings , never again will I use corn head grease in the steering box ! __________________ Don't force it with a little hammer tap, tap, tap get a bigger hammer tap done Last edited by Big hammer; Today at 10:53 AM.

Today, 11:35 AM	#20
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 18,007	Re: steering gearbox oil There used to be a video of a gearbox cut away for a viewing window so folks could see how it flows with movement of the gears. I believe it was put out by John Deere. The corn header used by JD has a gearbox with no less than four shafts to turn all the pick up and cutter works in there.