8N steering box rebuild

[ncBrad]

I recently purchased an 8N Ford with a late serial number. The steering box was shot and I disassembled it and found both steering shaft bearings trashed. After removal of all bearing debris I found a small brass grommet in the bottom of the housing. The book calls it a bearing retainer eyelet but I can't figure out where it goes, unless the original bearing retainer had a different design thean the modern Dorman item I installed. Any thoughts??

 

[Dell (WA)]

Brad......you'll gitt better and faster answers iff'n you'll re-post yer question about yer 8N-steering gearbox on the N-Board. Which specializes in the Ford 8N tractors. ......Dell

 

[souNdguy]

ditto what dell said.

in any case.. the lower thrust bearing was retaine dontot he bottom of the steering wormshaft with a lil thin metal retainer disc about the size of a nickle.. an dthat was held tot he shaft by a small plug about the size of an english pea.. probably what you are calling a grommet.

once assembled.. it's a moot issue.. the wormshaft is held rigid and the lower bearing rides in a race as wellas the upper bearing.. so if you got it all assembled it ain't going anywhere.

hope you didn't use the repalcement plastic bearings.. they are 100% junk..

soundguy

 

[ncBrad]

Thanks soundguy, I kinda thought that was the case. Went together fine and works great. And I was leery of the plastic bearings and used the steel ones. It'll be great having the old gal back together and working again.

 

[souNdguy]

I don't even know why someone made a plastic bearing for those machines anyway.. makes ya wonder..

soundguy