More 600 Steering

[Shaggyman]

Ford 600 - steering box has been rebuilt, but: still have 90 degrees of play in the steering wheel.
There is still play in the arm. Looks like the Pitman arm goes too far onto the sector shaft- there is a couple millimeters between it's outer edge and the shoulder of the shaft below the splines. Is there supposed to be something other than the felt washer under it? Or a larger diameter washer over the arm? My FO20 only shows the felt seal under the arm, and a lock washer over and nut over.
Would tightening the adjustment screw pull the shaft in enough to stop the play? Or...

 

[Sean in PA]

You talk about "the pitman arm". There should be two, one on each side. Is it only one side that has the problem? Did you follow the Service Manual when it was rebuilt? Did you adjust the lash on both sectors according to the manual?

 

[Shaggyman]

Pretty sure the splines on arms and/or sector shafts are just too worn to bind before going on too far.
Soldering the joints before tightening has been suggested - easier and cheaper than replacement.

 

[showcrop]

Order the sector from Mike Smith.

 

[john in la]

To adjust the box you first have to make sure the balls in the steering shaft knuckle are good to take up play.
Then the pre load is set on the steering shaft bearings.
Any up and down motion of the shaft or play between the shaft and knuckle will effect the play it the steering.

Then you time and install the sector gears and adjust per the manual. If you adjust the wrong one first it will not allow the other one to be adjusted properly.
The box is rebuilt and play adjusted before you even install the pitman arms so I don’t understand how installing the pitman arms is effecting the adjustment of the box.

The sector gears on the pitman arm end has a bushing and a seal both installed in the box case.
Then a felt washer then the pitman arm then a lock washer then the nut.
If you can tighten down on the pitman arm nut and move the sector gear sideways something is wrong either in the box or adjusting side of the box.