A tool (correct tool) for removing a 32 Ford steering gear?

[rust revival]

Did vlc, snap-on krw otc ever make a puller for getting the steering gear off the shaft this is a 32

[Pete]

Most shops I know use a 30 or 40 ton press to change that gear.
One word of warning, use a metal shield around the gear when pressing.
The gear has been known to explode when pressing.

[JM 35 Sedan]

I've pressed those worm gears off and on their shafts for years. I happen to have and use a 40 ton press, but I don't recall ever needing that much tonnage to get them apart or back together. I've never seen a puller advertised anywhere for pulling those gears off the shafts.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by JM 35 Sedan

I've pressed those worm gears off and on there shafts for years. I happen to have and use a 40 ton press, but I don't recall ever needing that that much tonnage to get them apart I've never seen a puller advertised anywhere for pulling those gears off the shafts.

It is not too many shops have a clamp for holding the shaft to install the gear.
A modified gunsmith barrel vise is what I used to use.

[JM 35 Sedan]

"Neal in CA" did a post here on this subject some years ago. He had pictures that showed his methods and his tooling for pressing the gears off and back on. After seeing his tooling, I made similar tools, mainly for holding the shaft tight enough to press that worm on correctly without bending or otherwise damaging the shaft. I've press several of these together for Fordbarn members as well as several for my own projects.

[Lawrie]

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I have such a tool,
Lawrie

[glennpm]

I used Neal's method with two clamps, 500° F in the oven and the shaft in ice water and it was still hard with my 20 ton press. I had to reposition the clamps a few times since they kept slipping. I did get it on with no damage.


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=neal+gear


https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showt...ight=neal+gear

[aussie merc]

any chance anyone can post pics

[glennpm]

I just posted two links that have pictures

[Karl Wolf]

I used a 40 ton press to take the gear off.
Then put a piece of aluminum plate on the cement floor.
With the gear on the bottom, I drove the shaft into the gear
by pounding the two on the aluminum.
Funky?? It works!

Karl

[deuce_roadster]

I purposely made my press tall enough to be able to do this. Mine is only 25 ton but haven't had any problem removing the worm gear and never got anywhere near 25 tons on the gauge. Like others have said, clamping the shaft so you can press it back on is the more challenging aspect of the job.

[cas3]

Thats correct, ^^^. All this talk about presses, and my experience is the shaft is too long to press off, and you can't press on without clamping the shaft at the base of its destination. The solution is forget the press, and do it in the vise with a good puller and a couple home made tools. First, I have a couple aluminum blocks about 4x4 and 2" thick. drill holes to bolt them together, then drill a hole one bit size smaller than the shaft for the clamp. Next you need a chunk of steel about 1" thick with a hole for the shaft to slide thru. Next you need a lathe to make a tool to push on, fits inside the shaft, and has a center for the puller to seat,and clears the diameter of the gear, and a slot for the key to clear. I have a mill, but some skill on the wiz wheel would do. To get the gear off, clamp your steel piece with the hole in the vice, slide the shaft in to the gear, then place your custom pusher part in the end of the shaft , and get a good 2 jaw puller set up and pull the gear off. To put it back on, you clamp the shaft with the aluminum block, line up the key and splines, and use the 2 jaw puller to pull it on. I have posted pics here before of my tools, I can look for them if its more clear. Not my idea, I stole it from Dennis Lacy on his thread of building a 32 pickup, which I have also posted here

[Lawrie]

Have a look on my post from 11-8-2021
Or do a search under steering box worm installation.
Lawrie

[cas3]

Lawrie's post https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=306161

[cas3]

Here's my tools for doing it. In the photo its set up for pulling the gear off, and to pull it back on simply clamp the aluminum block on to hold the shaft, and pull from the steel plate again. The pusher part I made in my lathe, but really could be done by grinding a bolt with a slot for the key way