Soundguy -

[mikeinfl.]

I took apart the steering gear box on the NAA today and You were right on the money - lower bearing was all apart.
I have a fo-20 manual,would the fo-19 cover this better ?
On the parts break down it shows at the bottom of the steering shaft a eyelet and a bearing retainer - I didn't see that in mine.
Is there a easy way to remove the lower bearing race and replace it ?
Thanks for the help !
mike
 

[souNdguy]

the steering gearbox on a naa is near identical to a 00 ag model.. you should be fine using the fo-20 as a guide.

at the bottom of the box if there is a core plug.. lnock it out to access the race. I have seen some boxes that have no plug.. though I think they were later boxes.

in that case.. a welding rod and steady hands and you can weld a bead around the face of the race, low penetration and stay away from an edge so as to not weld the race tot he box.. then it should draw up and fall out.. then you can seat another..

the eyelet holds the lower thrust bearing on so it stays on the worm shaft.. a handfull of grease tends to hold it too.. and / or you can set the thrust beairng inthe race and center the wormshaft in it as well.

past that it is counting doube and single sector teeth to align them and centering ballnut.. if done right you have wheels facing forward taking the same number of turns to turn them each way,a dn they have the same range of motion.. then do the usual.. pack steering box with lube ( i use 00 ep grease ).. ten set to in and other good things.. or at least check it..

adjsut sector backlash first though.. make sure you get a lil preload but not excessive on box top.. etc.

should be good to go..

post back if you hit a snag
 

[Tom in TN]

Mike,

I'm not soundguy and I don't know half as much as he does, however, I have the steering box on my Ford 2000 disassembled right now to replace the bearings.

The eyelet and retainer are important to hold the lower bearing onto the end of the shaft when you are putting it back into the steering box.

I've decided not to mess with replacing the outer races on either the lower or upper bearing. They are not badly worn or cracked and there is virtually no heat generated on these bearings since the only movement of them is when the steering wheel is turned.

I picked up all of the parts I need (bearings, o-rings, seals, etc.) today and hope to put the steering back together on Monday (we have out of town guests coming tomorrow after church so I don't think I'll be able to do anything tomorrow).

Good luck with your project.

Tom in TN
 

[mikeinfl.]

I did see a plug under the box.I will have to order the parts and maybe next weekend put it back together and pray that it works.
Thanks Again !
mike
 

[mikeinfl.]

Thanks Tom and good luck to You also
mike
 

[souNdguy]

as long as the ballnut/wormshaft assy is not excessively worn so that the ballnut cocks a lil sideways, and / or the sector teeth worn to a point, you should be good to go