Steering box lube plug.

[GA Dave]

I figured the steering box on my 49 8N had not been lubed in a long time. Today I used a 1-1/8" hole saw to drill the sheet metal over the plug but my x ray vision was off a hair. I tried a 12 point socket but it wouldn't work, stripped because one side collapsed. I'm thinking I can drill the threads out of a nut and weld to the plug. Any other thoughts? David...............

 

[Dunk]

Do you have an 8 point socket?

Some folks call them star.

 

[r geiger(oR)]

I thought the lube plug for that steering box is on the right side, or am I wrong?

 

[GA Dave]

I don't own any 8 point sockets. What size 8 point will fit the plug?



BTW Dunk, I bought a 6' Lowery brand bush hog for my son and I'm elected to rehab it. The stump jumper bar is bent on one side so bad one blade is hitting the top as it revolves under power. I have sockets up to 1-1/2' but this has nuts bigger than that. Think I can take everything off the gearbox shaft and use pipe wrenches?

Too many irons in the fire. David................

 

[Joe T (CO)]

I swear mine does not have that plug, it is just a blank boss. Mine is a late 49 (November) and it appears they forgot to drill the hole and tap it.

As for your problem if the 8 point socket dont work you may be able to dremel it down to a flat spot, center punch, drill, and use an easy out. Other than that you may have to pull the dash.

Thanks for the picture, I will need to do mine as soon as I figure out if a plug exists.

 

[GA Dave]

(quoted from post at 18:54:58 07/07/09) I thought the lube plug for that steering box is on the right side, or am I wrong?

n the left side sitting in the seat. For sure. Use your fingers and you can feel it. You may have better x ray vision than me. David................

 

[r geiger(oR)]

I took out the thru bolt on the right side above of the adjustment nut. It was open into the box. wonder where the oil went?

 

[Bruce (VA)]

Left side.
50 Tips

 

[GA Dave]

Bigger than 1-1/2' ???????????? Forgot to hit Shift. 1-1/2" . David...............

 

[Bob Harvey]

Did you find it odd that you had to perform 'surgery' just to FIND the plug? I have a 2N so I may not know what I'm talking about, but this is not the first post on "How to find the ....". Just seems danged odd to me - poor design or is there an approved method ? Inquiring minds........

 

[r geiger(oR)]

49 left, 50 -52 right. mine is a 50 8n. but it does have that covered plug too.

 

[Dell (WA)]

David.......yes indeedy, you have the later 8N steering gearbox with the original squarehead pipe plug (1/4" pipe, uses 1/2" 8-point socket) Dunk proudly shows his cutting torch made access hole, yers is much neater.

Fill with 2-tubes of stick corn-head grease from John Deere.

BTW, recommend you gitt ridd of that short red rusty sheetmetal battery tray ground and use a longer 11"-flatbraid ground ($10, cheap) to yer castiron steering gearbox attach bolt. Yer starter motor will "zing"......Dell

 

[fatdaddy]

Where do you lube the early 9n?

 

[fatdaddy]

Where do you lube the early 9n?

 

[Al Tanner]

Dave;
Great pic (Nikon?).I'd drill & tap that plug for an 'zerk' fitting and force feed using JD "corn head'grease type OO.(I found type O to be too runny).

BTW;What type/brand Hole Saw did ya use?I need an 2 incher to drill the dash for an Amp. meter.
TIA, [email protected]

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 22:56:57 07/07/09) I don't own any 8 point sockets. What size 8 point will fit the plug?



BTW Dunk, I bought a 6' Lowery brand bush hog for my son and I'm elected to rehab it. The stump jumper bar is bent on one side so bad one blade is hitting the top as it revolves under power. I have sockets up to 1-1/2' but this has nuts bigger than that. Think I can take everything off the gearbox shaft and use pipe wrenches?

Too many irons in the fire. David................

Dell, says it is 1/2", 8 point, and that does kinda sound right, although I had it in my head it was a 3/8", I would just have to go see.

For sockets, the local pawn shops may just be your best friend.

Usually no one ever wanted the 8 points that came with most sets of Craftsman sockets.

Also Harbor Freight has some pretty good sets of 3/4" drive sockets, for what they cost, and they go up to 2".

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=40996


Here is my '49, 8N *236763*

 

[souNdguy]

it is splash lubed by the trans.

soundguy

 

[willie in mn]

Quick & dirty removal of square head plugs. Take an old socket or extension that you can sacrifice, put the 3/8 or 1/2 in square on the plug. Use whatever length needed to get it out where there is working room. Might need to convince it a bit with a BFH. Then use a vise grip, pipe wrench, or weld a handle on your new tool.
Once you get it out, replace with a brass hex-head plug. It won't rust tight again.
HTH
Willie

 

[fatdaddy]

Thanks,I'm glad to hear that,been looking for a grease fitting or a place to put one.But you have to grease the 8n and naa models,right.

 

[souNdguy]

8n+ is an oil bath.. though many have been converted to grease.. 2n/9n has a portion of the box bottom open to the trans.

exploded parts daigram in your MPC or the Fo-4 service manual shows this.

soundguy

 

[Dell (WA)]

Joe.......they changed the later 8N steering gearbox fill'em-up from the squarehead you see in the picture to a secret fill'em-up at the bottom of the sheetmetal attach bolthole over yer right toe. You doubt? Make a "J-hook" outta bailin' warr and go probing. I found a "zerk" fitting that I could screw into the 7/16-NC bolthole and squirted my steering box full. The sheetmetal bolt is NOT a fragile supporter needing lots of strength.

The fill'em-up is slightly "LOW" and does NOT reliably lubricate the steering gear box upper bearing. Which causes more sloppy steering than the big pull-push gear mesh adjustment screws. That is why we are recommending 2-tubes of that heavy sticky John Deere corn head grease. It don't leak. .......Dell

 

[Pooh Bear]

I have an early 1949 8N with the early steering box.
With me driving the tractor, the plug is on the right side.
And I have no problem getting to it. Nothing to remove, etc.

Here is how I put a grease fitting in mine.
Grease Fitting for an Early 8N Steering Box

Pooh Bear

 

[Joe T (CO)]

(quoted from post at 13:32:03 07/08/09) Joe.......they changed the later 8N steering gearbox fill'em-up from the squarehead you see in the picture to a secret fill'em-up at the bottom of the sheetmetal attach bolthole over yer right toe. You doubt? Make a "J-hook" outta bailin' warr and go probing. I found a "zerk" fitting that I could screw into the 7/16-NC bolthole and squirted my steering box full. The sheetmetal bolt is NOT a fragile supporter needing lots of strength.

The fill'em-up is slightly "LOW" and does NOT reliably lubricate the steering gear box upper bearing. Which causes more sloppy steering than the big pull-push gear mesh adjustment screws. That is why we are recommending 2-tubes of that heavy sticky John Deere corn head grease. It don't leak. .......Dell

Thank you, I will take a look at it this weekend.

 

[Joe T (CO)]

(quoted from post at 13:32:03 07/08/09) Joe.......they changed the later 8N steering gearbox fill'em-up from the squarehead you see in the picture to a secret fill'em-up at the bottom of the sheetmetal attach bolthole over yer right toe. You doubt? Make a "J-hook" outta bailin' warr and go probing. I found a "zerk" fitting that I could screw into the 7/16-NC bolthole and squirted my steering box full. The sheetmetal bolt is NOT a fragile supporter needing lots of strength.

The fill'em-up is slightly "LOW" and does NOT reliably lubricate the steering gear box upper bearing. Which causes more sloppy steering than the big pull-push gear mesh adjustment screws. That is why we are recommending 2-tubes of that heavy sticky John Deere corn head grease. It don't leak. .......Dell

Thank you, I will take a look at it this weekend.

 

[GA Dave]

Al Tanner, I used a Lenox brand hole saw. When using a 2" saw be sure to use a 1/2" drill motor with a extra hand hold. Ease into the cut untill it's cutting and then use a little pressure.

Dell, don't the battery cable bolt go through the sheet metal and into the steering box cast metal?

Dunk, I got the stump jumper/blade holder off and now I think I can use pipe wrenches to take the blades off. The blade holder is bent up so I'll try to get it straightened or replace it. I'd probably never use the big 3/4" sockets again.

David...............

 

[Dunk]

(quoted from post at 00:16:04 07/09/09)

Dunk, I got the stump jumper/blade holder off and now I think I can use pipe wrenches to take the blades off. The blade holder is bent up so I'll try to get it straightened or replace it. I'd probably never use the big 3/4" sockets again.

David...............

Must be planning on getting rid of that big bolt/nut basterd in the next 20 years....

:lol:

 

[GA Dave]

(quoted from post at 21:09:33 07/08/09)

(quoted from post at 00:16:04 07/09/09)

Dunk, I got the stump jumper/blade holder off and now I think I can use pipe wrenches to take the blades off. The blade holder is bent up so I'll try to get it straightened or replace it. I'd probably never use the big 3/4" sockets again.

David...............

Must be planning on getting rid of that big bolt/nut basterd in the next 20 years....

:lol:

ep, I'm fixing it up for my son who lives 25 miles up the road. He can buy a 3/4" set when it needs it next. BTW, the gearbox spline shaft has a 1-1/2" castallated nut on it. That's as big as my 1/2" drive sockets go. David..................

 

[Dell (WA)]

Dave.......trust me on this rusty ground thing. Sheetmetal ain't good ground even iff'n yer bolt goes to steering box, it ain't a good ground. Use one of the steering gearbox attach bolts to the engine castiron block for a GOOOoood 6-volt ground. ......Dell