Steering lube- Penrite 1200W

[Bruce_MO]

I bought a bottle of the Penrite 1200W steering box lube, and I'm wondering how to get it into the box. It's more like a gel and it doesn't seem to flow much.

Can I "pump" it in with a grease gun? What technique will work? Thanks

[J Franklin]

A grease gun would work and maybe some careful heating might help also. If it is for your steering box it should have some flow characteristic.

[JunkOSC]

I just bought some. The bottle I have has a retractable funnel/hose. Just pull it out and squeeze the lube out.

[Bob/Kansas City]

According to the Restoration Supply company's literature the Pennrite 1200 W is recommended for steering boxes and will cure a leaking problem because of the high viscosity.

Pennrite states:
"A self-levelling, high viscosity lubricant containing non-corrosive extreme pressure additives.

Ideal for veteran and vintage steering boxes. Not recommended for rack and pinion steering."

[1931 flamingo]

There was a long post on this lubricant earlier this year.
Paul in CT

[JD Miller]

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Interesting. Folks with no experience using Penrite draw a conclusion that it is a grease. WRONG. Of course we see a lot of these type comments even when folks have no experience. Guess just feel necessary to post something!

During the thread earlier this year I purchased a bottle of the Penrite steering lube works as advertised. It clings to the steering box internals and does not leak out like 600W in steering boxes that have a tendency to leak.

As stated, pull out the nozzle and then squeeze the lube into the gear box. The nozzle fits the fill opening in the steering box perfectly. As a matter of fact the cap on the bottle is printed with the words "Pull Up" "Unscrew Cap." Can't get any clearer than that. A very good product. Does the job as advertised.

JD

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Squeeze it in like JD says. If you rock the worm back and forth, it will help it settle in. A couple of follow up checks to top it off might be needed. It goes in slow, but that's why it does not leak out. We've used in on many old classics with good results.

[brokenspoke]

Where do you buy it?

[Louis]

JD,
Where did you purchase the penrite steering lub?... sounds good to me.
And i agree 100% with the 1st part of your post.

[Phil Brown]

Who sells this stuff ?
Might just stop that drip & spot of oil on the floor that everybody has to walk through

[raprice]

I'm fascinated by this whole thread. Up until now, I've been using the 600W stuff sold by the Model A suppliers. It works, but I need to refill the steering box at least once a year. I called Restoration Supply for their catalog. I plan to try the Penrite 1200 stuff in my steering box and hope it works well.
Rog

[Joop]

I have been using it for years, clean and easy too.

http://www.restorationstuff.com/RSC26.pdf

Joop

[JD Miller]

Let's tie this all together.

Source for Penrite steering box lube is:

Restoration Supply Company
15182B Highland Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92025

Phone: 800-306-7008 or 760-741-4014

www.RestorationStuff.com
[email protected]

Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Pacific Time) Monday-Friday

Product in question is Part# LUB009 Penrite Steering Box Lube. Comes in a .5 LTR bottle. Price is $15.75 plus shipping.

They will accept phone orders. Get their catalog. You will be amazed at the high quality restoration supplies they carry.

JD

[Bruce_MO]

Sorry...my bottle just has a resealable pull-up cap, like those on some water bottles. There's no filler tube or means that I can see to get it into the box. And I was concerned as thick as it is, that it won't readily flow into all areas and displace the air in the box as I try to fill it.

I'll try a few things, but I do assume that it will "flow" over time and I'll need to check and top off a few times after the initial fill.

Thanks

[JD Miller]

Bruce.
OMG! Call Restoration Supply. All the contact information is posted above. They will explain how to extend the filler spout. I doubt they have changed the container, so there is a filler spout that is pushed down into the bottle. Once you've drained the existing steering box lube then fill with the Penrite. As a number of us have found the product will "flow" and fill the box. It's worked for us, no reason it won't work for you.

JD

[Roger W Gerow]

Another good product is made by John Deer. It is called "corn head" grease. Comes in a tube for use in a grease gun. My local John Deer dealer has it for $3.25 a tube. Use it in my steering gear box and also in the U joint a rear of the transmission.

[MrTube]

What is the reason for using this stuff over installing the modified steering box endplate with tube? That seems to fix all leak problems and allows you to run the 600W.

[pat in Santa Cruz]

Originally Posted by MrTube

What is the reason for using this stuff over installing the modified steering box endplate with tube? That seems to fix all leak problems and allows you to run the 600W.

I would still replace the end plate with the modified one. Even 1200 wt will eventually get in the light switch because the original cork seal eventually fails.

The reason for using 1200 is if there is a leak from the sector shaft and bushing. They leak a little when good and a lot once they're worn. I install an o ring seal or use a modern seal when replacing the sector and bushing and then 600w works great. But a lot of folks find themselves in a situation where they do not want to rebuild the steering box yet, but it leaks all over the frame and the garage floor. The 1200 will help slow it down.

[Bruce_MO]

I have the extended tube and a modern seal on the sector, and it still leaks pretty badly. It's not easy to see exactly where the leak is. I have the same set-up on another A and it doesn't leak at all. I don't want to pull out the box and redo things if the Penrite lube will work.

[Joop]

The spout

[JD Miller]

Joop,
Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures of the Penrite and the spout. See, it is there. I wanted to post a picture but can't figure out how to get them posted on this siet.

JD

[Joop]

You are welcome JD

[Cadillac Bill]

Do you need to flush the steering box to remove the old oil? Or just drain it and top it off with LUB009?

[Bob-A]

Cadillac Bill,

I never flushed the boxes on my "A's", as most of the original oil/grease had leaked out. These were rebuilt boxes too. {Note: I have never professed to be a mechanic, but I can "change parts" with the best of them} To add the Penrite to the steering box. I use an old metal funnel and wooden dowel. The dowel diameter is a little bigger then the funnel's small end. I cram the Penrite down the funnel until it starts over flowing out of the box. After the next drive or two in the "A". I double check the steering box and add more lube if needed.

Bob-A

[Cadillac Bill]

Excellent Bob-A! I have read that some of the lube bottles have some kind of tube, but others do not. I have some of the 1200W on the way. Will find out which bottle I have.

Your idea is simple, cheap and excellent, thanks again!

[Curtis in MA]

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I ordered some and it now comes in a tube that will not fit a grease gun.
Plan to use an empty 600w bottle.

[duke36]

Lube can leak out the side sector adjust nut and or the large gasket between the bodies.
The cornhead can leak a little when it warms as well requiring a lube fitting to fill. Some prior owner installed a drain plug in our 2 tooth box bottom which makes draining easy.

[29er]

I use Penrite but it did not come in the bottle shown in Post #20. Instead, as Bruce_Mo says, it does not have an internal pull-out spout.

I bought a big plastic syringe at the local feed store and "inject" it into the steering box. I check it frequently to replace the 600w that's slowly leaking out.

[Sparky]

Same here, I didn’t flush the old lube out but loosened the end cap and let it drain for a while. Remnants of the the old lube did sleep out for a few weeks after adding Penrite but then stopped.

[Bill Pursel]

I think the correct term for it is semi fluid....

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

I was going to say, don’t use 1200, but on their website the steering lube is listed that way. I bought both 1200 oil, and steering lube years ago, and they were different, and in totally different containers. Evidently there’s been product changes.? Sorry, guess I can’t resd. Picture in next postfor some reason I can’t upload a picture of the two. Anyway the gear oil is 1500. But no specs on the steering box lube.

[Dale G.]

The Penrite that I purchased at Restoration Supply at Hershey last October was in a container to be used in a caulking gun. I asked about what happened to the way it used to be and they said this is the way it is now. I have used this new container not in a caulking but just poured it. On a warm day it poured like New Zealand Honey. It went in with a small funnel very slowly but did go in. I did get a big cooking suringe (SP) that works best for this new container. Great stuff guys!

[slammin]

I used 600w in my tranny, rear end and steering box. When I top off fluids, I put the bottle in boiling water for about 15 minutes. I doesn't flow like water, but it does flow. Wear gloves when you handle the bottle.

[burner31]

There's always the old fahion way.
Just have to know when to hold'em and when to blow'em

[dave in australia]

Penrite is an Australian company, so if your in the USA, you have to hold the bottle upside. Haha.

[PalAl]

Seems to have been a rush on this stuff, should be back on the shelf in a couple of weeks.
Bet there wondering why the sudden sales.

[SeaSlugs]

Originally Posted by PalAl

Seems to have been a rush on this stuff, should be back on the shelf in a couple of weeks.
Bet there wondering why the sudden sales.

probably because its opening car season in many locations and everyones steering boxes have leaked all over thier floors all winter

[wrndln]

Penrite appears to be hard to find and $$. I was thinking about mixing John Deere cornhead grease with 600W (Mobil/Shell 680 gear oil). It seems like this would end up with a consistency similar to Penrite - thicker then 600W, but thinner than JD cornhead grease. Since they are both gear oils, I don't see a problem doing this. Does anyone see a problem with mixing the two gear oils, hopefully to prevent leaking? I was also thinking of using the mix in the differential. Since I have O rings on the transmission shafts, I plan to use 600W in the transmission.
Rusty Nelson

[iverson]

I am very happy with the j.d. cornhead grease I put in last year still full. I took out one of the bolts and pumped it in with a grease gun with adapter to fit the old ford fittings until it pushed out the old 600w. the only good use I found for the adaptor on a modern grease gun. the factory tool kit gun works much better on the stock fittings less mess and one handed. our car is a 28 and it has the grease nipple on the fill plug.

[Pinesdune]

Originally Posted by wrndln

Penrite appears to be hard to find and $$. I was thinking about mixing John Deere cornhead grease with 600W (Mobil/Shell 680 gear oil). It seems like this would end up with a consistency similar to Penrite - thicker then 600W, but thinner than JD cornhead grease. Since they are both gear oils, I don't see a problem doing this. Does anyone see a problem with mixing the two gear oils, hopefully to prevent leaking?

I've mixed the two in two steering boxes and I haven't noticed an issue so far, no leakage and steers easy. Haven't done this in a diff.

[Railcarmover]

Originally Posted by MrTube

What is the reason for using this stuff over installing the modified steering box endplate with tube? That seems to fix all leak problems and allows you to run the 600W.

That's called fixing the root cause.

[wrndln]

I used the end plate with the tube attached for a supposed fix for leaking. After installing the tube/end plate, the steering box still dropped to much. I was about ready to put John Deere corn-head grease in the 7 sector box. However I decided to try one more fix before the corn-head grease after several attempts with Permatex on the small bolts on the bottom to stop the dropping. I got some heavy cotton thread from my wife's sowing basket and wrapped 12 or 15 rounds of thread just under the bolt heads. No leaks since.
Rusty Nelson

[PalAl]

Originally Posted by Roger W Gerow

Another good product is made by John Deer. It is called "corn head" grease. Comes in a tube for use in a grease gun. My local John Deer dealer has it for $3.25 a tube. Use it in my steering gear box and also in the U joint a rear of the transmission.

Roger, I use the "corn head" in the U joint also but didn't consider the steering gear box. Has that worked well for you? Any special way you filled the box with the corn head?

[oldforder]

Has anyone ever considered '00' grease? I buy mine from TSC (tractor supply). It is super S brand which I believe is Smittys. It is also known as cotton picker spindle grease. It is a little thinner than corn head grease. I put it in my leaky steering box, and no leaks yet. I am going to put it into my u joint also. I became familiar with it as a Snapper OPE dealer. Snapper uses it in all their standard gearboxes, including chain cases, and worm gear snowblower cases, etc, etc. Shoot, it might be good in the A transmissions.

[barkleydave]

Wow $19 bucks for 1/2 qt. and for me $23 bucks for shipping! Ouch

[updraught]

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Welcome to our world.

It is less than US$10 at our local auto store with %20 off this month.

[Ruth]

Originally Posted by barkleydave

Wow $19 bucks for 1/2 qt. and for me $23 bucks for shipping! Ouch

I guess the good side is you only need ~5 oz. so it should last you awhile.