How is the steering gear cover removed from the steering case. The MTF Service Manual shows a screw to be removed, but mine has no screw in it. Does the cover thread off of the case?
The cover threads off the case. Sometimes they are a little tight. Put on a pair of leather gloves, grab hold and give it a good turn. It should begin to unscrew.
When you cant get it to turn you can use a chain wrench being careful and wrap a towel or piece of leather around the cover and apply the chain wrench. The leather will keep the chain from goughing the cover.
An oil filter wrench is what it is. Some folks might cringe at doing this but it will work and wont mess up the cover even if its been renickeled Good luck
The set screw is there to keep the threaded cover from getting loose. Be sure to replace it.
The Ford Service shows use of a babbitt lined wrench to remove the cover, an oil filter wrench is good too as mentioned, mine has a neoprene lining so it works well.
The key in the shaft for the steering wheel has to be removed prior to turning off the cover.
A band type oil filter wrench is a very handy tool for removing the gear case cover.
Stephen
lefty loosey righty tighty
I took me a while to get the steering wheel off and thought it would get easier getting into the gears once it was off. But I can't find any hint of a screw, or hole where it would be, despite looking for a couple of hours. When the wheel was on the shaft it would turn perhaps 30 degrees and stop. Now the cover does the same thing as it moves the shaft, even with the slot key removed. I wouldn't think the steering gear cover should move with the short shaft.
It's a mighty small screw, hardly bigger than jeweler's screwdriver size and it fits flush with the case cover. I 'think' all the steering boxes had one. Sounds like it's been loose forever and cut a groove in the threads.
Perhaps it's not a stock cover. There were many accessory locking wheels, etc that used their own cover.
Post a picture of the cover.
Thanks for the suggestions. It is a stock cover as pictured at http://www.mtfca.com/discus/messages/179374/255233.html, but I sure can't find the set screw or hole where it might have been.
Dennis
That screw is probably sheared off so you can't see where it was, that would make the cover hard to remove. Try to find the stub, you may need to drill down into the cover with a small bit.
The cover hole is threaded, and also the steering gear case is threaded with 1/2 dia of the thread, that locks the cover to the case.
When you put the cover back on, be sure to replace the screw. You will likely find the old screw hole in the case no longer matches the one in the cover after you tighten the cover. Drill and tap a new hole in the case to keep your cover tight.
This is a picture of my 1916 cover with the screw.
I believe the original screw is almost headless, with a tiny head that fits inside the hole in the cover. I thought I'd take a picture of it, but none of the eight steering gears I checked had it. Apparently the vendors don't sell it, and the Ford parts book lists it (for 1¢) but doesn't picture it. Anybody have a picture?
The screw is a 6-32 round head slotted. I use a stainless screw, and rework the head some, so it will look like an original. You will find the location of that screw was originally at the top. Because of normal wear, it may wind up being at 4 o'clock, or somewhere else. Just redrill the hole, and be careful to wrap a piece of tape around the drill so you don't go to far!
Then rethread it to 6-32 and you are done. The other alternative is to silver solder the hole, and redrill it at the 12 o'clock position. Of course if you have a '16 or older, you will want a brass screw.
Thank you for all the help. I've had no luck finding the screw. The cover turns freely on the case for 30 to 40 degrees and then sticks solid. The shaft turns with it - should it with the key removed?
Dennis
All the covers have that screw hole, and there should be a screw in place, yours must be rusted over or painted over or something.
If you have exhausted the search, then twist off that cover. It will remove, you may have to dope it up with a lot of penetrating oil, as it maybe rusted or could be stuck on the pinion (steering wheel) shaft. That cover has to be un-screwed off the housing to remove it.
I think the reason it sticks at 40 degrees is that a stub of the screw is resting in the external threads of the housing, and the cover is stopped from turning. The shaft should not turn with it, indicating the shaft is stuck to the cover bushing, probably rust or crud or dried up grease.
I posted many years ago that the cover screw wasn't a standard screw--Pan head, round head or otherwise. While many of the parts catalogs indicate that it is a screw with 6-32 threads, Ford never issued part numbers to standard hardware or fasteners. Only special fasteners had part numbers. And this screw has a part number (T-3505).
I don't have a picture but the one that came in my 25 steering gear cover looked like the image below. It is headless, #6-32 and has the lower portion turned down.
Dennis - I suspect your cover is just rusted to the shaft. If the screw was present at all, the cover wouldn't turn. Check around the perimeter (in the knurling) to make sure someone didn't add a set-screw. It may take some oil and elbow grease to get it un-stuck from the shaft. You may have to remount the steering wheel and use a strap wrench to break it loose. The covers don't have a bushing--They are plated steel on steel.
Gosh Ken, I've never seen one of those. I would sure like to see some photos of the screw you posted, and of one installed in the car too!
I have a box full of new takeoffs from a old dealership, they all have a nickel plated round head screw still in them. My best guess is they were taken off to install a fatman or locking wheel.
Try your local hardware or Home Depot / Lowes.
A package of twenty was just over $4.00.
Ken
I find that interesting that you found a grub screw shape for part 3505 (factory # 910) for the "St. gear cover screw" The Parts book lists No. 6 32 x 9/32" thread for this part.
Have always seen a round head single slot screw in the cover, never a grub or set screw....interesting.
This is what I find in every old steering gear taken apart, haven't yet seen a set screw.
Perhaps that grub screw you found is for the early Ford? , the 1909-10 Parts book has the 3505 as factory # 919 not the 910 as later factory number.
Steve, Ken & Dan - It's not a very good picture, but there IS a picture in "the bible" that shows it (a magnifying glass helps).
Page 178, Figure 387 arrow designated "B". Hope this helps,....harold
Dan What did you use around the rods and screw holes in the brass ?
Looks like JB .is that right
Lorenzo
No JB Weld in the nickel plated brass steering gear case, what you may be seeing is the gray color of the unpolished nickel plate. There is a spurious fleck of JB Weld on the cloth lying below the case
The throttle and spark rods are held by the ears of the case, gently pried up and wrapped back around the rods.
Harold
Thanks for the photo source in the bible [Ford Service], yep that clearly shows a single slot round head screw in the cover
So what. Anyone that's ever taken one of headless screws out know how easy it is to loose. And greasing the case was a frequent maintenance item. I'm still not convinced and won't be until I see a factory drawing. I've seen too many with the headless screw. Also, show me where Ford assigns part numbers to stock hardware items. The screw shown in your photo over-hangs the edge of the cover--As does most "replacements". If Ford put effort into nickel plating the case and cover, he wouldn't fault it with standard hardware that didn't fit.
Thanks Dan ,.I never had much luck with the brass around the rods at the open end
there it flakes an brass comes apart when put back
its a good thing the rods are pressed against the housing by the quadrant when put back in the column
lorenzo
Well, I have seen a cover that did not have a hole in it for any sort of set screw. But I always figured that it was some sort of replacement.
My guess would be that your steering wheel shaft has frozen to the cover. The reason it turns only 40? degrees may be that the main shaft might have the pin in it to prevent over-center steering. Once it hits the end of the slot, no more turn. Try a little heat on the cover with a wheel spider and an oil filter wrench twisting against each other.
Good luck!
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2