Steering Rebuild: How difficult to press off/on worm gear?

[Detonator]

I'm building a 37 -39 style box for my '35 coupe. I've pulled apart four boxes to find a good worm and sector -- but I've got a problem: the good worm is on a later, and longer, shaft. I want to press it off and put it on a '40 shaft I have (after pressing off the 40's crappy worm).

How doable is this? The shaft length is going to be an issue for my press.

[skidmarks]

They are pretty tight. You need to make up a pin with a pilot to support the ID of the shaft so it doesnt mushroom. As for fitting in the press you might have to block it up off the floor to get enough clearance. Or drill a hole in the floor for a pocket

[jimTN]

Get a grade eight fine thread 7/16 bolt and nut, the nut should be a 5/16 head, not 11/16. Screw the nut on the bolt with at least 3/4" of the bolt thru the nut, then hold the shaft upside down, stick the bolt in it use heavy gloves and hit the bolt head. You can drive the shaft right out. To reinstall, line up the splines, tap it just enough to get it started and use a axle knocker nut screwed down on the steering wheel end. Again use gloves and tap the knocker just like you would put a handle in a hammer.

[51 MERC-CT]

I put a new worm in mine by cutting the new shaft and using a sleeve to marry it to the old shaft using roll pins.
Of course the length and clocking have to be considered.
Also you have to consider the clearance in the column.
'Borgeson' U joint has sleeves just for the purpose that can also be welded.
This eliminates the need to press on or off the worm gear.

[Brian]

I've done this a few times; I always cut the buggared worm off the shaft I intend to use [carefully] with an oxy/actylene torch without marring the shaft. This keeps the shaft intact/straight.
The worm I intend to use will come off in a hydraulic press of adequate size. Now, to fit, I freeze the shaft in dry ice, and heat the worm in a container of oil that I heat until it is smoking. Be careful it doesn't 'flash' into flame!! The worm will only go on one way. Familiarise yourself with how it goes. You may need a copper mallet to assist it on the last little bit. Working quickly, remove the HOT worm and orientate correctly on the vertically positioned shaft. It should drop on, but may need application of copper mallet to move the last smidge.
These things are TIGHT; it is called a shrink fit.

[JM 35 Sedan]

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If you have the necessary tools, fixtures, and access to a big enough press, it is a rather quick and easy job. Neal in Ca put up a post showing how he does this. I took Neals idea for a shaft holding fixture and made one something like his. I'll repost Neals pictures that he posted a year or two ago, plus some pictures of the fixture I made for doing this. Not sure Neals pictures are in the correct order....

[cas3]

heres my stuff to do it, much like john and neal. laying on the dead motor is the aluminum block to clamp the shaft when pressing on, a big hunk of steel with the right size hole for pressing it off, and my home made driver to press it off. all except the driver you can make with just a drill press. the driver is a bit fancy, but a bolt or anything that will clear the key on the shaft will work. do not try to just press against the whole length of the shaft, it will bend, dont ask how i know this. heres some photos, one pressing on, and no, thats not a sex toy in the photo, its the dogs toy as i do not allow the wife to bring her toys to the shop. any time you are pressing things, i like to have the right stuff to make it strong and straight. the time spent making the right stuff is worthwhile. skip

[cas3]

i want to add, they are tight, but its a tight fit that has been living in oil all its life. not like a rusted up thing that needs heat and scares you to death in the press. they go easy when set up right. forget most of the violent ideas posted above, and use the right stuff in a press. best wishes, skip

[cas3]

geez, 3rd post here, sorry i did not catch that the length of the shaft is a problem for your press. heres a link to a nice detailed rebuild by dennis lacy at the old ford garage, i believe the steering stuff starts at about page 10 or so, he uses the same idea but with a large strong puller that i do not have, maybe you do. good article, you will learn a bunch, they are good at old fords. i'm done now!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/t...-11-16.970252/

[19Fordy]

Detonator: Send a OPM to one of the people who have the equipment to do
this, asking if they will do it for you. Lot's of bright folks on here.

[cmbrucew]

Detonator
You can lay your press down horizontal to accommodate the shaft length.
Bruce

[Detonator]

Originally Posted by cas3

...sorry i did not catch that the length of the shaft is a problem for your press. heres a link to a nice detailed rebuild by dennis lacy at the old ford garage.....

Thanks everyone for your insight. I'm a longtime fan of Richard and Dennis Lacy's shop, and steering box guru NealinCA is just down the highway from me. I think I'll take advantage of a pro for this press-on press-off job.

[JM 35 Sedan]

Based on reading several of Neal's fb posts on this subject, I think he does a lot of pressing these worm gears off and on steering shafts. I'm sure he would help you on this. I have also done several for Fordbarners, but I'm on the other coast from you.

[Karl Wolf]

To change the worm gear, it's nice to have a press. You could remove it with a hammer.
It would be nice to have a valve guide type driver and a large vice. Substitute a bolt in the end of the shaft, you could even add a copper washer to the bolt... Use a large hammer and a punch in a vice grip to drive the bolt.

To install, put a piece of aluminum plate on the cement floor. Line up the keyway in the shaft with the worm gear, hit the worm gear on the plate with the shaft behind it and the shaft will be driven through the worm.

And, yes, I've done this.

Karl

[john in illinois]

Here is one of the best ideas I have seen for pressing on a gear.
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...=Worm&t=108627
Could probably adapt to V8 Shaft. 7/16 or metric bolt.
John

[V8COOPMAN]

Originally Posted by john in illinois

Here is one of the best ideas I have seen for pressing on a gear.
https://fordbarn.com/forum/showthread...=Worm&t=108627
Could probably adapt to V8 Shaft. 7/16 or metric bolt.
John

Taken from the thread John linked just above, this is a slick procedure! DD