Bad, Good, Bad

[bach4660]

Went to take the Fargo for a run today and something in the steering box snapped. luckily it was in front of the house when I went to back out and turn up the street which was the only good part. The other bad part was it broke with the wheels on about a 20 degree turn so I can only go in circles and not back up the driveway into the shop. I bought a pair of the dolleys for moving vehicles, but, the driveway is one of the concrete ones with all the stones (I think they call it exposed aggragate) that was the bad, really hard to get dollys to roll easily

 

anyways it is back in the shop and now I might be looking for a new steering box.

 

oh well, at least its at the end of the summer

 

 

[Apittslife]

Very lucky it happened where & when it did!

Gives you a winter project

[Merle Coggins]

Curious to know what actually broke. I've never heard of a steering box breaking like that.

[bach4660]

Curious to know what actually broke. I've never heard of a steering box breaking like that.

me too. It started to turn with the usual lo speed resistance that it suddenly jumped or crunched and the wheel moved up about 1/2 inch. After that it was basically locked. I have a  little bit of turn to the right and absolutly no turn to the left. I will post once I have it out or open etc.

[HanksB3B]

Removing the steering box cover plate will let you know if it's the worm and tube.Glad you were in front of your house moving slow  .

 

 

Hank    

[bach4660]

I took off the cover, the gear that attaches to the pitman looks good, the worm on the steering tube is missing about a 1/2 piece.

So I am looking for a replacement steering box. the one I have is stamped 31118 or 311J8?

 

I have searched the technical archives cross reference looking for sources or alternatives.

 

anyone in the pacific northwest with a steering box?

[HanksB3B]

Bach,

 

What # is stamped on the worm ?

 

Hank 

[bach4660]

Bach,

 

What # is stamped on the worm ?

 

Hank 

it; is stamped 4.

attached are two photos, the bend in the shaft just where the first knurl is not an illusion, I am guessing that is the clunk I felt when turning. I have only about 8o miles on this truck and as always never sure what the PO did or didn't do.

Two more question, there were round loose ball bearings in the steering  box but two roller bearings one upper one lower.

Two now what, Hank you asked about the worm number what parts are replaceable/available?

[bach4660]

hard to see but this is the top of the worm, with the four visible

[JBNeal]

Bad news:  your steering shaft tube + worm gear are only usable as a display item now as that tube is shot.  The tube is supposed to have a smooth surface; I'm not sure how those grooves got there, but that will definitely weaken the steering tube.  Also, I don't know where the floating ball bearings came from, as they are not needed in the gearbox.

 

Good news:  B-1 steering shaft tube + worm gear are also used in B-2, B-3 & B-4, so any donor gearbox assembly guts will fit in your gearbox.  B-1 gearboxes castings are different than B-3 & B-4 and have a different part number than B-2 gearboxes.  When I rebuilt the gearbox in my '49, I used the guts from a B-3 donor and everything fit perfect

 

Verify that the gearbox casting has not been damaged.  I've condemned various gearboxes because a roller bearing has shelled out, one of the rollers gets caught in the meshing teeth, and the casting will flex outward & crack.

 

Bottom line:  ya got lucky with that failure in your driveway rather than on the street at speed.  I've messed with enough old stuff and had all kinds of odd failures at inopportune times & locations that I'm leery about putting my trust in an old machine that has sat for an extended period or has a lot of hours racked up without the assurance of a complete teardown & inspection.  It's a lot easier to work on one in the driveway than on the side of the road...

[55dodgec3]

Will a C model box fit, I have a used one Im not going to use

[bach4660]

Bad news:  your steering shaft tube + worm gear are only usable as a display item now as that tube is shot.  The tube is supposed to have a smooth surface; I'm not sure how those grooves got there, but that will definitely weaken the steering tube.  Also, I don't know where the floating ball bearings came from, as they are not needed in the gearbox.

 

Good news:  B-1 steering shaft tube + worm gear are also used in B-2, B-3 & B-4, so any donor gearbox assembly guts will fit in your gearbox.  B-1 gearboxes castings are different than B-3 & B-4 and have a different part number than B-2 gearboxes.  When I rebuilt the gearbox in my '49, I used the guts from a B-3 donor and everything fit perfect

 

Verify that the gearbox casting has not been damaged.  I've condemned various gearboxes because a roller bearing has shelled out, one of the rollers gets caught in the meshing teeth, and the casting will flex outward & crack.

 

Bottom line:  ya got lucky with that failure in your driveway rather than on the street at speed.  I've messed with enough old stuff and had all kinds of odd failures at inopportune times & locations that I'm leery about putting my trust in an old machine that has sat for an extended period or has a lot of hours racked up without the assurance of a complete teardown & inspection.  It's a lot easier to work on one in the driveway than on the side of the road...

thanks for the repy. I think it will end up hanging on the wall.