Gear reduction steering bearing block fabrication

[cleat 6,198]

I have found several of the lower bearing blocks for the reduction steering assembly cracked.

Here is one that I have here that is cracked.

 

If the block is worn and you try and drill it for a bushing it also usually cracks so I decided to make my own.

I went and bought a short length of 1"x1.5" flat bar (over $20 for that, I guess steel prices must be up).

 

Marked bar then cut off.

 

I then drilled the blanks for the 3/4"x 7/8" bushings that will be installed.

 

Then the holes were drilled for the mounting bolts and grease fitting.

 

Bearing block bolted to steering block for test fit.

 

I now need to order the bushings then I can finish these.

 

[peter lena 8,684]

@cleat  awesome job !  can you say   lucas x tra hd green chassis grease ? ALSO POLYUREA  RATED , so it will stay with it ,always like to over build a problem spot . related front axel  and  spindle bearings / wheel bearings , like it too . pete  

[cleat 6,198]

 

5 minutes ago, peter lena said:

@cleat  awesome job !  can you say   lucas x tra hd green chassis grease ? ALSO POLYUREA  RATED , so it will stay with it ,always like to over build a problem spot . related front axel  and  spindle bearings / wheel bearings , like it too . pete  

 

I agree.

This one came to me cracked.

Others arrive worn.

Once I repair then I use good quality synthetic grease and basically never have an issue again.

 

I believe the steering block grease fittings on both gear reduction and non gear reduction units get missed by a lot of owners so they just run dry and wear out.

 

 

[ri702bill 8,425]

Nice work, Cleat. Those thin-walled bushings are not "standard" and not cheap...

 

 

[ri702bill 8,425]

3 hours ago, cleat said:

I went and bought a short length of 1"x1.5" flat bar (over $20 for that, I guess steel prices must be up).

Yes, the price for steel is going up... let's see what next year brings....

[ebinmaine 67,944]

12 hours ago, cleat said:

I decided to make my own

 

 

Excellent work! 

[cleat 6,198]

Blocks bead blasted.

 

[cleat 6,198]

Here is a quick drawing of the block

 

[kpinnc 12,289]

15 hours ago, cleat said:

 

Here is a quick drawing of the block

 

Thank you for sharing this! 

[cleat 6,198]

Bushings came in.

Here they are cleaned and ready to be installed.

 

I used a bit of this to ensure bushings do not move once installed.

 

Bushings pressed in.

 

Ready to be drilled.

 

Bushings drilled.

 

Blocks tapped to 1/4-28 for grease fittings.

[ebinmaine 67,944]

Artwork

[kpinnc 12,289]

2 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Artwork

 Agreed sir. 

[pacer 3,174]

I hereby now bestow 3 'attaboys' to you!! Us horse owners have to get innovative in repairing/replacing many of the parts. OEM's, and, even used parts are getting more and more hard to find.

Thankfully I have a pretty well equipped machine shop and can build many of the needs. I recently had the starter mount of my D200's starter mount break which is cast into the oil pan. On pricing what was out there, I was quite surprised at the really high prices being asked for the 2 that I found! Soooo, I just had to spend some 4-5 hours -- 'modificating' my mount. Turned out pretty well, not purty, but its working again.....