NAA steering

[Quietwater]

Well, here's a dumb question. I'm replacing the bearings in the steering shaft of my Ford 861 tractor. After removing the steering head, I noticed a thin gasket under the steering gear housing. However, when trying to order the parts necessary to conduct the repair I was told the 861 does not use a gasket under the housing, but the Select-O-Speed models do. Why does the Select O Speed tractors have a gasket at the bottom and the other tranny types do not? It is the same gear housing bolted on in the same way. What is the difference? I would think a gasket would keep water from entering the the transmission cavity under the housing.
 

[awhtx]

On your 861 the area under the steering box is the "bellhousing" and the only thing in there is the clutch and if water leaks in nothing is affected. IIRC the area under the steering box on the SOS trans contains some of the planetary gear sets and you don't want water in there mixing with the fluid nor do you want the fluid leaking out.
 

[souNdguy]

if it bothers you.. lay a piece of paperboard up on the bellhousing and go at it with a balpeen hammer and tap out a gasket.. or clean up and use rtv.. etc.

on a non sos, as awhtx said.. that's an open bellhousing and has a drain.