Please help: Steering parts for 1960 Oliver 550

[TractorRepairBoy]

I have been on the hunt for steering parts for a 1960 Oliver 550 tractor. (Serial number over 52k)
The steering one day started to bind up a bit and suddenly I could turn to the right but not to the left.
We ended up lifting the front end with another tractor and pulling it up to the shop to work on it.
After about a day of tear down, we discovered the cone bearings above and below the worm gear are shot and the ball bearings in the worm gear assembly had fallen out and one of the ball bearings had found it's way into the steering gears.
I did purchase a book set for the Oliver 550 and according to the parts book I am searching for part number 101065AS (Shaft, Worm and ball nut asy) or a way to find the parts to rebuilt the existing worm gear assembly if that is possible.
For some reason part number 101065AS or the parts that make up that assembly seem to be non-existent. Does anyone out there know if 101065AS cross references over to other part numbers? I am running out of ideas. I have called a bunch of numbers (most of which have not returned my call) searching for this elusive part.
The shaft I removed from the unit appears to measure about 23.5 inches.
I have found brand new steering box assemblies available for purchase starting at about $800 not including shipping and a nearby parts dealer told me they have a used steering box assembly in the boneyard that I could obtain for $700.
Being that there are rebuilt units out there, these parts need to exist somewhere.
This is a decent little tractor but I don't really want to put $1k into it as the tractor is only worth about $3k.

If anyone knows where I can find the parts I am in need of, let me know. I am located in central Wisconsin and I can provide pictures of things upon request.

 

[Buddy K]

I may have some solutions for you. Call me 715-743-2220.
Buddy

 

[scootergmc]

You need the whole shaft and assembly? Usually you can just replace the bearings, etc. Walts has them: https://link_disallowed/acatalog/550_oliver_steering_box_parts-1-1.html (replace the link disallowed with walts tractors .com (remove spaces)

 

[TractorRepairBoy]

You need the whole shaft and assembly? Usually you can just replace the bearings, etc. Walts has them: https://link_disallowed/acatalog/550_oliver_steering_box_parts-1-1.html (replace the link disallowed with walts tractors .com (remove spaces)

I decided to search for the shaft and block assembly together instead of trying to rebuild the bearings in the block and find the little U-shaped bearing brackets. It is not the cone bearings that I am in search of, it is the bearing in the toothed block that rides up and down the worm gear.

I should add that I am not apposed to rebuilding the bearing, but again I come back to not being able to find the parts to rebuild it. The ball bearings should be easy to find as long as I can find the ball measurement. I have not found the U-Shaped bearing brackets or carriers (Not sure what they are called as I type this). I also question how worn out the existing worm gear and gear block are as there was very little oil/lube left in the gear box when we opened it. The worm gear appears to be in pretty good shape to my eyes but I am not a seasoned on these old machines as others.

I see the replacement shaft assembly on this site is also labeled as power steering shaft and has the incorrect part numbers.. I do not have power steering on mine, will this still fit and work?

 

[rrlund]

I decided to search for the shaft and block assembly together instead of trying to rebuild the bearings in the block and find the little U-shaped bearing brackets. It is not the cone bearings that I am in search of, it is the bearing in the toothed block that rides up and down the worm gear.

I should add that I am not apposed to rebuilding the bearing, but again I come back to not being able to find the parts to rebuild it. The ball bearings should be easy to find as long as I can find the ball measurement. I have not found the U-Shaped bearing brackets or carriers (Not sure what they are called as I type this). I also question how worn out the existing worm gear and gear block are as there was very little oil/lube left in the gear box when we opened it. The worm gear appears to be in pretty good shape to my eyes but I am not a seasoned on these old machines as others.

I see the replacement shaft assembly on this site is also labeled as power steering shaft and has the incorrect part numbers.. I do not have power steering on mine, will this still fit and work?

The shaft is shorter with power steering I believe. Thiose recirculating balls should be in there in the grease somewhere. There's no way for them to get out. I wouldn't be too concerned if one or two are missing. I don't think mine are all there.

 

[scootergmc]

And those boxes if I remember correctly were the same as used in Fords. There are more steering box parts marketed to Fords for sure.

 

[TractorDad3]

I went down this rabbit hole for might ‘59 as well. I ended up buying a rebuilt unit from this site that was done right. Picture shows the different shaft lengths and types I bought to try and make work. Tried shortening the tube length but couldn’t get it adjusted properly to function smoothly. Yes, the power steering shaft and ball nut assemblies are shorter. My front end was sliding sideways on ice and caught dry pavement, likely exploding some of the balls out of the assembly as I also found them at the bottom and could only sometimes turn right.

 

[TractorRepairBoy]

@rrlund: This is true. I think I have found the majority of the ball bearings. I may have dropped a few on the floor during my digging. The only problem is, the little U-shaped bearing races that are bolted on the back of the block do not appear to be in the best of shape. I think that might be how they escaped captivity to start with. For reference of what I am talking about, you can see them on the back of the rectangular block in @TractorDad3's picture.

@scootergmc: From my research, it seems Ford, Oliver, White, and I forgot the last one all used these steering boxes or variations of them. The challenge is figuring out if the other manufacturers part is compatible with my Oliver. Lol. @TractorDad3: Sorry to use you as an example again but I definitely see a few hundred dollars in unusable purchases sitting there.

@TractorDad3: I too have purchased two different shafts already. One was way too short (20 or 21 inches) and the other one was also short (22.5 inches if I remember right). I got lucky and it only cost me about $15 dollars to ship each one back but other places are charging restocking fees and full return shipping.

What has frustrated me a little bit is that I have visited 3 different bearing shops so far. One shop took one look, laughed, and said "good luck". The next shop just shook their head and said "They haven't made bearings like that in a while. There is only one person here that might know how to rebuild that. We are going to pass on taking this. Best of luck." The last shop tried to do something but couldn't and then tried to get connected with a business to business parts company to get me a new/refurb part but was unable. So, it boggles my mind how there are refurbished/new units on the market but apparently the parts can no longer be found anywhere.

 

[rrlund]

@rrlund: This is true. I think I have found the majority of the ball bearings. I may have dropped a few on the floor during my digging. The only problem is, the little U-shaped bearing races that are bolted on the back of the block do not appear to be in the best of shape. I think that might be how they escaped captivity to start with. For reference of what I am talking about, you can see them on the back of the rectangular block in @TractorDad3's picture.

@scootergmc: From my research, it seems Ford, Oliver, White, and I forgot the last one all used these steering boxes or variations of them. The challenge is figuring out if the other manufacturers part is compatible with my Oliver. Lol. @TractorDad3: Sorry to use you as an example again but I definitely see a few hundred dollars in unusable purchases sitting there.

@TractorDad3: I too have purchased two different shafts already. One was way too short (20 or 21 inches) and the other one was also short (22.5 inches if I remember right). I got lucky and it only cost me about $15 dollars to ship each one back but other places are charging restocking fees and full return shipping.

What has frustrated me a little bit is that I have visited 3 different bearing shops so far. One shop took one look, laughed, and said "good luck". The next shop just shook their head and said "They haven't made bearings like that in a while. There is only one person here that might know how to rebuild that. We are going to pass on taking this. Best of luck." The last shop tried to do something but couldn't and then tried to get connected with a business to business parts company to get me a new/refurb part but was unable. So, it boggles my mind how there are refurbished/new units on the market but apparently the parts can no longer be found anywhere.

Ya, mine all came out too. I had a Dickens of a time getting them back in.You might just have to squeeze the tube back together and close it up.

 

[scootergmc]

Take a chance? same as before... add the waltstractors. com to the link: https://link_disallowed/acatalog/CIH428-----Steering-Ball-and-Tube-Kit-182488.html#SID=28388

 

[SPMN]

I have been on the hunt for steering parts for a 1960 Oliver 550 tractor. (Serial number over 52k)
The steering one day started to bind up a bit and suddenly I could turn to the right but not to the left.
We ended up lifting the front end with another tractor and pulling it up to the shop to work on it.
After about a day of tear down, we discovered the cone bearings above and below the worm gear are shot and the ball bearings in the worm gear assembly had fallen out and one of the ball bearings had found it's way into the steering gears.
I did purchase a book set for the Oliver 550 and according to the parts book I am searching for part number 101065AS (Shaft, Worm and ball nut asy) or a way to find the parts to rebuilt the existing worm gear assembly if that is possible.
For some reason part number 101065AS or the parts that make up that assembly seem to be non-existent. Does anyone out there know if 101065AS cross references over to other part numbers? I am running out of ideas. I have called a bunch of numbers (most of which have not returned my call) searching for this elusive part.
The shaft I removed from the unit appears to measure about 23.5 inches.
I have found brand new steering box assemblies available for purchase starting at about $800 not including shipping and a nearby parts dealer told me they have a used steering box assembly in the boneyard that I could obtain for $700.
Being that there are rebuilt units out there, these parts need to exist somewhere.
This is a decent little tractor but I don't really want to put $1k into it as the tractor is only worth about $3k.

If anyone knows where I can find the parts I am in need of, let me know. I am located in central Wisconsin and I can provide pictures of things upon request.

I sold out to All States Ag in Wisconsin & it included a lot of Super 55 or 550 steering boxes & lots of loose steering parts. Try them or try Maibach Tractor in Ohio at 800 808 9934. They have a big Oliver salvage yard & are an Agco dealer. Either should have what you need. Also, the power steering shaft in totally different &
will not work in a manual steering box. HTH, Kent Gordon

 

[I550]

I sold out to All States Ag in Wisconsin & it included a lot of Super 55 or 550 steering boxes & lots of loose steering parts. Try them or try Maibach Tractor in Ohio at 800 808 9934. They have a big Oliver salvage yard & are an Agco dealer. Either should have what you need. Also, the power steering shaft in totally different &
will not work in a manual steering box. HTH, Kent Gordon

If the shaft and ball nut aren't rusty or pitted I would put it back together. I have worked on a 55 and 550 and not had any trouble with that part. Straighten up those split tubes and put the balls back in it. Like 30 in each one. I think GM Saginaw division made those originally. Probably a 1950 Chevy pickup steering ball nut would be similar.