2 Tooth Steering Box Shaft Removal

[A BONED]

I recently bought a reconditioned 2 tooth steering box that has the top section of the steering shaft cut off, there is only around 2 foot of the steering shaft coming out of the box.
How can I remove the cut off steering shaft so that I can swap out the steering box in my 29 roadster with the reconditioned steering box I have just bought? Can it be done easily with hand tools or does this need to be farmed out to a machine shop?

[Kurt in NJ]

The picture isn't clear enough to be certain, but it doesn't look like it is a 2 tooth Gemmer for model A

pressing the worm gear off and onto another shaft takes more than ordinary hand tools

[A BONED]

Bad pic, it's definitely a 2 tooth box though, just a little fuzzy in the image.

[Steve Plucker]

I do not know if you have completely disassembled what you have pictured...if not, keep removing bolted on items...It should come apart then.

Like Kurt said...the photo isn't clear and can not tell just what you have or have not done.

Pluck

[RonC]

You will have to disassemble the box to remove the steering shaft. There are several good articles on rebuilding these boxes including the Ford Service Bulletins. The steering shaft has a worm gear pressed onto the end of the shaft. Your options are to find another shaft with gear or you can buy a new shaft and gear. Inspect the steering sector inside the box for wear on the sector shaft and sector teeth for wear where it contacts the worm gear. If the wear is bad I would toss all the guts and rebuild the box with new parts.

[Mitch//pa]

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you mentioned that you bought a recon box. if it has a new sector and worm, disassemble your box and remove the shaft with worm gear. you can reuse the worm by pulling it off with the appropriate puller and repress it onto the new shaft.

[Ross/Kzoo]

I'm wondering how you got a "reconditioned" box and the shaft is sawed off. What are the circumstances around that if I could ask?

[Flathead]

I wondered that also. Maybe it is a refugee from a Hot Rod build?

[Purdy Swoft]

I agree with RonC in post #5. I wouldn't bother trying to use the worm gear even if it is new, TOO much chance of messing something up, like bending the new shaft you would be trying to install it on. I installed the new shaft with the worm gear already installed from Brattons. I figure that you wouldn't be asking if you had the equipment and experience to remove and replace the worm gear in the first place.

[Mitch//pa]

pressing it on is cake and it does not ruin the shaft

[Purdy Swoft]

It can if the person replacing the worm isn't experienced in replacing worm gears.

[Doug in NJ]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

pressing it on is cake and it does not ruin the shaft

Did you tap the hole on the bottom of the shaft, so that you could put the worm on that way?

Doug

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by Doug in NJ

Did you tap the hole on the bottom of the shaft, so that you could put the worm on that way?

Doug

hi doug,
yes the shaft accepts the tap without drilling, some guys cry foul about this method but it works and does not degrade anything...

[tbirdtbird]

That's pretty clever. I remember going nuts getting an old one off and a new one on. I don't even remember how I did it. How do you get the old one off??

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by tbirdtbird

That's pretty clever. I remember going nuts getting an old one off and a new one on. I don't even remember how I did it. How do you get the old one off??

i use my snap on puller set up to remove.

[QGolden]

That's a good Tech Tip Mitch. Thx.

[johnsor]

I didn't have any trouble getting the old one off using a 35 ton press. For pressing the new one on, I made a special clamp to grab the shaft just below the scroll gear area so I didn't bend the full length shaft in pressing. Helps to oven heat the scroll just prior to pressing it on. Not a difficult job if you use a free standing floor press of at least 30 ton capacity.

[Mitch//pa]

Originally Posted by johnsor

I didn't have any trouble getting the old one off using a 35 ton press. For pressing the new one on, I made a special clamp to grab the shaft just below the scroll gear area so I didn't bend the full length shaft in pressing. Helps to oven heat the scroll just prior to pressing it on. Not a difficult job if you use a free standing floor press of at least 30 ton capacity.

The problem i had using my press was that it was not tall enough so the shaft would hit the floor its also bolted down. My puller set works for all kinds of stuff and has different length puller bolts. Pricey though

[Great Lakes Greg]

Not to make more trouble, but there are different length shafts. It would be a bummer to go through all that work for the wrong size.

[James Rogers]

Originally Posted by Mitch//pa

The problem i had using my press was that it was not tall enough so the shaft would hit the floor. My puller set works for all kinds of stuff and has different length puller bolts. Pricey though

I sat my press up on 4" cap blocks to get the added height to do steering shafts. I also, made a clamp to use for install that when left loose is used to press the gear off. It works great.

[A BONED]

Thanks Mitch, great lateral thinking using a puller to get the worn worm off and tapping the base of the steering shaft and bolt/nut/washer to re-install the good worm back on. Great tech...!

Chris

[Wallace]

This is a great thread for me....my thanks to all ! wk