Simple Manual Steering Box Question

Am I able to take the cover off without messing up the adjustments? I'd like to remove the old grease before putting new stuff in.

Happy Easter everyone.

 

If it is a 71 Ross box, yes. The adjustment screw is in the center of the cover and locked with a locknut. No other adjustments are affected by taking the side cover off.

 

If it's a Saginaw gear, I recall you have to do something before you remove the cover. (Center the steering? Something). Also, I belive you will have to loosen the adjustment screw to get the cover off. Setting that screw is supposed to be a bench job, where you adjust the worm lash (the shaft inline with the steering shaft) with an inch-lb torque wrench before you adjuas the gear mesh (screw on the top). I suppose you could carefully measure the thread location before you remove the cover, then put it back without changing the setting. Look at any of the TSMs from these years, and it will discuss the process. Proper adjustment is important; too loose and it will be sloppy, too tight and it will bind.

Happy Easter to you too!

 

Dang. Thats kind of what i was thinking after looking at it. I think I'll fill it the normal way then. The steering has far less play than my 79 so i don't wanna mess with perfection!