The Ford Barn

mike42 · 07-18-2021, 06:28 AM

Good morning.....

Can the lower seal and gasket be changed without removing the gear box ? I keep filling with lube but it drains out on the cross member below.

Thx.....Mike

1931 flamingo · 07-18-2021, 07:46 AM

Penn Rite steering box lube.....................NO leakee.
Paul in CT

glennpm · 07-18-2021, 07:59 AM

Re. "Can the lower seal and gasket be changed without removing the gear box ?"

Yes it can. I have had trouble with some bottom plate to copper tube leakage. I've silver soldered and in one instance brazed the tube to the plate on the steering box internals side.

bobH · 07-18-2021, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glennpm

Re. "Can the lower seal and gasket be changed without removing the gear box ?"

Yes it can. I have had trouble with some bottom plate to copper tube leakage. I've silver soldered and in one instance brazed the tube to the plate on the steering box internals side.

This has been covered previously. Richard Lacy (Early V8 Garage) posted on this, many moons ago. If old (really old) threads are searchable, should be able to find details... which include just what Glenn posted. Old problem. Should be a Ford part number for that leak.

mike42 · 07-19-2021, 05:47 PM

Okay thx guys.

Andy · 07-20-2021, 03:56 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

I have several good used ones. You pull your old one out, switch gaskets, and put the new one in.$10 + ship

Ford Freak · 07-20-2021, 05:28 PM

A lot of us have had good luck with John Deere Corn Head Grease in our steering box's.

3twinridges · 07-20-2021, 06:45 PM

On the 48-52 truck boxes, one of the plate bolts is open to the inside. Ours leaked there even with cornhead grease until I sealed the threads with permatex aviation.

JB

glennpm · 07-23-2021, 09:47 AM

When you’re straightening it, don’t use the end plate where you can avoid it. I’d try to get a heavy bar, slip in the tube and you can work it by hand, small hammer or rubber mallet to straighten it.

mike42 · 07-24-2021, 06:27 AM

Thanks for the info. I’m using some grease from England. Pentride or something like that. Suppose to stop leak but no luck. I’ll try to remove that plate and replace gasket.

Thx…….Mike

russcc · 07-24-2021, 07:02 AM

As noted in earlier posts, the tube for the horn wire attached to the bottom plate can come loose and result in leak. I got an NOS bottom plate from Fred at So Side Obsolete, and that fixed the leak. Save the old tube & plate, clean it and silver solder it back together as spare

07-18-2021, 06:28 AM	#1
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	1940 Steering Box Leak Good morning..... Can the lower seal and gasket be changed without removing the gear box ? I keep filling with lube but it drains out on the cross member below. Thx.....Mike

07-18-2021, 07:46 AM	#2
1931 flamingo Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: new britain,ct 06052 Posts: 9,389	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak Penn Rite steering box lube.....................NO leakee. Paul in CT

07-18-2021, 07:59 AM	#3
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,980	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak Re. "Can the lower seal and gasket be changed without removing the gear box ?" Yes it can. I have had trouble with some bottom plate to copper tube leakage. I've silver soldered and in one instance brazed the tube to the plate on the steering box internals side.

07-19-2021, 05:47 PM	#5
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak Okay thx guys.

07-20-2021, 03:56 PM	#6
Andy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Kerrville, Tx Posts: 2,769	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) I have several good used ones. You pull your old one out, switch gaskets, and put the new one in.$10 + ship

07-20-2021, 05:28 PM	#7
Ford Freak Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Pittsford NY. USA Posts: 1,096	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak A lot of us have had good luck with John Deere Corn Head Grease in our steering box's. __________________ 1952 Ford F1 1965 Ford Falcon Sprint 2007 Ford Mustang GT

07-20-2021, 06:45 PM	#8
3twinridges Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 547	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak On the 48-52 truck boxes, one of the plate bolts is open to the inside. Ours leaked there even with cornhead grease until I sealed the threads with permatex aviation. JB

07-23-2021, 09:47 AM	#9
glennpm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Wiscasset, Maine Posts: 1,980	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak When you’re straightening it, don’t use the end plate where you can avoid it. I’d try to get a heavy bar, slip in the tube and you can work it by hand, small hammer or rubber mallet to straighten it.

07-24-2021, 06:27 AM	#10
mike42 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Gaylord, Michigan Posts: 1,599	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak Thanks for the info. I’m using some grease from England. Pentride or something like that. Suppose to stop leak but no luck. I’ll try to remove that plate and replace gasket. Thx…….Mike

07-24-2021, 07:02 AM	#11
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: 1940 Steering Box Leak As noted in earlier posts, the tube for the horn wire attached to the bottom plate can come loose and result in leak. I got an NOS bottom plate from Fred at So Side Obsolete, and that fixed the leak. Save the old tube & plate, clean it and silver solder it back together as spare