Yet Again on Cornhead Grease

[AM Seb]

I know there's been much discussion on cornhead grease (maybe too much!) and just as I'm ready to use it on my 1948 8N steering box, I see a couple of possible problems. I heard that, #1, overfilling could pop out the Welsh plug at the base of the box, exposing the clutch to grease and, #2, the amount of cornhead to use has ranged from 1-l/2 to 3 tubes. Has anyone experienced the #1 problem? And re #2: I'm going with two tubes hoping that'll lube the upper bearing. If Ford ever addressed this with a Service Bulletin please advise. Thanks in advance for your experience. Angelo

 

[Pooh Bear]

A couple of years back I had to split my tractor and change the clutch.
I found no plugs or passages that would allow grease into the bellhousing.
The top of the bell housing was flat and solid. Early 1949 8N.
If you overfill the box the excess will squeeze out under the steering wheel.

It takes just under 2 tubes to fill the box.
Mine was half full and I put almost a whole tube in yesterday.

Pooh Bear

 

[Dan]

Here is a pic of what I discovered when I split my 1948 8N. Look closely on top of the input shaft housing and you will see globs of grease - this is what leaked from the plug on the bottom of the steering box above it. I think it had something to do with the plug not being seated, because it allmost fell out in my hand when I overhauled the box. I put it in nice and tight on re-assembly, and filled the box with 1 1/2 tubes of cornhead grease - I had no concerns.

Just make sure the plug is in nice and tight - if it was designed to hole 90w gear oil - it will hold grease.

Dan

 

[souNdguy]

As the others said.. it will be way easier for the grease to squeeze out under the steering wheel vs popping the plug. in fact.. i think it would blow bast the sector seals even before the plug.. etc.

Also.. I found that i used 'nearly' 2 tubes when i did my buddies tractor.. and there was only an ounce or so of his original lube left in the bottom of the box that we couldn't get out.. etc.

soundguy

 

[Bob]

If you use MY suggection, and use a grease needle, there is NO risk of overfilling the gearbox, and forcing a plug out... when it's full, grease will simply start oozing out by the needle.

 

[Don B]

AM....the welsh plug is designed to come out from the inside,unless someone has knocked it out to the outside and boogered the hole up. don b

 

[AM Seb]

Thanks to all for the replies. It's now full stea--er, grease--ahead! Angelo