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Ross Box Post-mortem

Discussion in 'Flat Fender Tech' started by w3srl, Jul 9, 2005.

  1. Jul 9, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
    Messages:
    4,275
    Curiosity overwhelmed me late last night, and I disassembled what was left of my dead ross-type steering box. Those of you at Tellico this spring will remeber that it got really tight out on the trail just before it went "pop" and disgorged all the oil out the bottom of the box.

    Upon close examination of the innards, I counted 4, yes 4 ball bearings left inside the case, and the pins on the nearly-new sector shaft were almost worn to nothing. Isn't there supposed to be about 30 of those ball-bearings in there? :?
    I'm guessing that the clearances were way off inside, and one or more bearings fell down into the box where they got trapped in between the worm and sector gears. What's left of them isn't very pretty either.

    What makes me mad is that these were all new parts and I thought I had everything set up according to the FSM. Guess mebbe some of the Filipino parts aren't machined quite to spec. Imagine that! :rofl:
     
    w3srl, Jul 9, 2005
    #1
  2. Jul 9, 2005
    mb82

    mb82 I feel great!

    Charlottesville Va
    Joined:
    Mar 17, 2003
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    2,706
    sounds like one of those things you need to see pics of ;)
     
    mb82, Jul 9, 2005
    #2
  3. Jul 9, 2005
    Mark W.

    Mark W. Banned

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2005
    Messages:
    71
    Is it possible the box wasn't designed for the work load of a trail like Tellico. What type of tires were you running? Larger tires will increase the leverage acting upon the box and if like you say the parts weren't quite up to factory they could fail quickly.

    There is a good reason the Ross steering was phased out.
     
    Mark W., Jul 9, 2005
    #3
  4. Jul 9, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2002
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    4,275
    Good points Mark, but Patrick was watching my back and handled the same trails i did with his ross setup, bigger tires/wheels and never had an issue. I was never *quite* happy with the results of the rebuild, it always just felt *funny* IYKWIM. I even did away with the 15x8" rims with the big offset before Tellico and it still crapped in the bed. :rofl:

    Ain't gonna happen next spring, I tell ya! :D
     
    w3srl, Jul 9, 2005
    #4
  5. Jul 9, 2005
    DanStew

    DanStew Preowned Merkin salesman Staff Member

    Lexington, South...
    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2002
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    4,585
    So did you do a CSI type autopsy on the ross box :)
     
    DanStew, Jul 9, 2005
    #5
  6. Jul 9, 2005
    Mark W.

    Mark W. Banned

    Joined:
    Jun 25, 2005
    Messages:
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    So It was mosdt likely a crappy parts thing then.

    Did I read you are going to a Saginaw??? I am but I have other stuff to get done first it's about third on my list to do.

    But then I'm working on a bare frame!!! And I have already completley removed any hint of the origional steering right down to the brace on the back of the crossmember is gone!

    If you are not going to upgrade I happen to have a decent ross box on hand. The tube and shaft have been cutt off about 2" above the box so you would need those!
     
    Mark W., Jul 9, 2005
    #6
  7. Jul 10, 2005
    w3srl

    w3srl All-around swell dude Staff Member

    Port Orange, FL
    Joined:
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    4,275
    Thanks Mark, but the cutover point has been made. By next week I'll have *real* steering ( and not a c-clamp in sight!) :p
     
    w3srl, Jul 10, 2005
    #7
  8. Jul 11, 2005
    kamel

    kamel Senior Curmudgeon

    Erlanger, Kentucky
    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2003
    Messages:
    891
    If you re-install a Ross box, get one from a tuxedo park, an M38A1, or a jeep with the FACTORY v-6.

    It bolts right in, but is a little larger and has a better ratio. I've got one in a 3b and it steers easy as can be. As I get time, I'm going to swap out all the 4 cylinder ross boxes in favor of the larger ones in the jeeps I have.

    kamel
     
    kamel, Jul 11, 2005
    #8
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