[Healeys] Steering Box Questions

Roger Grace roggrace at telus.net
Sat Mar 7 19:42:25 MST 2020


Update.Have decided on a 2 pronged approach.Filled with NGLI - 00 grease and monitoring for ANY leaks.So far so good.ANY signs of leaking will do it properly and replace the seal.
On a separate note beware ... there is always a crocodile lurking. I ordered a cannister of the Penrite grease and ariived no issue. However the Oz Penrite cannister is a larger diameter and does not fit our DIN 1284 sized grease guns (used in USA Canada UK and Europe) .... grrr ! Never received any comment from Penrite about this.
So had to resort to spooning with the usual mess and wastage ....rg
----- Original Message -----
From: Bluehealey <bluehealey at gmail.com>
To: 'Healeys' <healeys at autox.team.net>
Sent: Sun, 26 Jan 2020 09:14:51 -0700 (MST)
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Steering Box Questions
Guys.This is an interesting thread and I absolutely agree with use of the NLGI grease. This becomes a ‘fit and forget’ mod. Neglible – probably zero – leaks and therefore no need to ever top up again. The stuff sticks like 5h1t to a blanket and gets dragged by the worm into the rocker arm bearing surface. I practically brimmed mine after replacing the oil seals and it has never leaked.Regarding R&R in situ.  Removal of the column/box really isn’t a big deal. The sequence, from memory:Disconnect the bullets and withdraw the trafficator including stator tube in one piece. Plug the exit hole olive and nut with a 3/8” bolt to minimise oil over the floor.Steering wheel off and grille out.Undo column clamp and three box bolts. Split the steering rod joints.The box comes out easily then by rotating it and drawing out of the grille opening.  The trick for re-installing is to slide a PVC tube into the car long enough to pass from grille opening into the cockpit. Plumbing waste pipe here in the UK. The engine bay grommet plate is positioned on the plastic tube and the grommet as two separate items. Slide the column into the tube and through the grille until the box can be caught on a front trunnion bolt. Then withdraw the plastic tube and install the clamp, plates and grommets.It isn’t as difficult as it may appear and makes working on the box a very comfortable exercise at the bench.JM2CHave funAlanB   From: Healeys [mailto:healeys-bounces at autox.team.net] On Behalf Of simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
Sent: 26 January 2020 10:10
To: 'Perry'
Cc: 'Healeys'
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Steering Box Questions Yes. Further to my last email, there is further info on the tube:-“Polyurea thickened grease that is a superior corn head lubricant”.&“Applications:Corn head gear cases, irrigation system gear boxes, and gear boxes requiring NLGi “O” grade grease”.&, rather relevantly,“Problem solving grease for gearboxes with leaky seals”.Were not half of the text in French, I remain confident that there would be reference to “leaky old Brit cars”…………!Simon From: Healeys <healeys-bounces at autox.team.net> On Behalf Of Perry via Healeys
Sent: 26 January 2020 02:19
To: healeys at autox.team.net
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Steering Box Questions ListersLooks like the common denominator on these thick oils/pourable greases is that they meet the requirements of  NLGI 00standard (NLGI is National Lubricating Grease Institute).  This topic is a common one in the old car world with folks like us. The results of the use of this product, mainly lack of leaks on old steering boxes, is mentioned on many sites. So if you have an very old Chevy or a AH this stuff is helpful. Not saying that a properly repaired steering box can’t be nearly leak free but for most of us this stuff will make the situation much better. Don’t let the term grease deter your use.  It still flows to all the places that need lubrication but resists leaking out.   By the way there are lots of sources for this stuff under many name brands and retailers.  NAPA, John Deere and a multitude of others.  Use the NLGI 00 specs to find supplier near you.Perry Sent from Mail for Windows 10 From: Chris Dimmock
Sent: Saturday, January 25, 2020 6:33 PM
To: Roger Grace
Cc: Austin Healey
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Steering Box Questions Penrite comes in grease gun cartridges. I replace the filler with a 1/4 bsp nipple to fill https://www.penriteoil.com.au/assets/pis_pdfs/STEERING%20BOX%20LUBE.pdf 
On 26 Jan 2020, at 6:18 am, 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.  
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