[Healeys] Steering Box Questions

[Michael Salter]

This is a pic of a small puller, readily available from Harbor Freight
being used to remove the steering arm from the idler on a BN1.
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=pitman%20arm%20puller
You will note that the castellated nut has been removed then installed part
way and upside down to help the forcing screw to stay centered.
[image: image.png]

The puller has to be modified slightly to fit over the arm and engage on
the pulling ears.
It is a bit of a fiddle but it works perfectly.
I see no reason why the same tool could not be used on a later steering box
or idler although opening in the puller would have to be slightly larger
for the post BN1 cars.

M


On Sat, Jan 25, 2020, 8:16 PM Bob Spidell, <bspidell at comcast.net> wrote:

> It can be nigh impossible to get a puller on the pitman arm, but if you
> can get the bolts out you can turn the box out 90deg and get to it from the
> 'side.'  I sacrificed a cheap, long slotted screwdriver and bent the very
> tip to improvise a puller.  I ground the tips of couple eighth-inch dia.
> steel rods to make a long, flat blades to tap the new seal in.   It's a
> bear, but it can be done.
>
> I agree with Michael on (not) using grease.
>
> Bob
>
>
> On 1/25/2020 11:33 AM, Michael Salter wrote:
>
> I know that I will raise the ire of some with this but, I would not
> recommend any type of grease unless it becomes a liquid at normal operating
> temperatures.
> My problem with grease is that the steering box rocker shaft runs steel on
> steel at the top the tube of the steering box. I have rebuilt quite a few
> of those boxes and encountered considerable wear of the shaft at that point
> when they have been low on oil, as in empty, or have been filled with
> grease because the grease does not seem to get to that area.
> As for changing the seal without removing the box it is possible. A small
> pitman arm puller can be maneuvered into position to remove the arm then it
> is just a case of digging the old seal out with an ice pick or dental hook.
> Replace the original single seal with a pair of SKF /CR9815 seals and you
> will be good to go.
> For the front cover, remove it carefully so as not to damage the bearings
> then reassemble with the slightest amount of sealant between each of the
> shims and the cover.
>
> M
>
> On Sat, Jan 25, 2020 at 2:18 PM Roger Grace <roggrace at telus.net> wrote:
>
>> Two questions for the more experienced among us ...
>>
>> My BJ8 steering box is leaking. From the front cover and more
>> significantly from the shaft.
>>
>> Firstly, is it possible to replace the shaft oil seal without removing
>> the box ? - that is not going to happen at the moment.
>> Looks sort of feasible to me and possibly the most difficult issue would
>> be extracting the old seal ?
>>
>> Secondly as often mentioned here is to refill the box with some Penrite
>> or similar NGLI 00 liquid grease. Is there a sensible/practical tecnique to
>> get it into the filler hole ?. Grease gun with plastic tube ? Sounds messy
>> job to me.
>>
>> Comments/ideas appreciated.
>>
>> rg
>>
>>
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