ri702bill 8,327 #1 Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) Another day, another bushing! I modified the end of the lower steering shaft at the fan gear - cut the shaft and tapped the end to accept a 5/8 ID x 3/4 OD sleeve bushing. I did this for 2 reasons - the end of the shaft was worn and the bore in the block was fine. I also milled 6 .020 deep relief cuts in the shaft to allow the green grease to collect as shown still in the hex collet block fixture. See second picture. I modified the upper bore of the block - fly cut the flat surface to clean and drilled & reamed for a press fit 3/4 ID x 7/8 OD bushing. Had to drill thru the bushing at the grease fitting hole and hand tapped it 1/4-28 thru. I've been replacing all the existing grease fittings as I go along - upgraded from wheel bushings to ball bearings - removed the grease fittings and sealed the hole with a setscrew. Both of those wheel fittings had a threaded portion about 3/8 long - I used one to replace the steering block shorter fitting - it now threads into both the block and bushing, so the bushing is locked in place. Last, as I mentioned, I replaced the wheel bushings. They were shot and the spindles had wear at the underside of inner bearings. My son is the TIG welder jockey, I asked him to build up that worn area as seen with the gold color to support the bearing once it was hand filed to size. Used a small bit of JB Weld on the sides. The result was a snug fit with no play. So far, so good. Bill Edited March 24, 2022 by ri702bill 5 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #2 Posted March 24, 2022 Awesome stuff! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #3 Posted March 24, 2022 6 minutes ago, Pullstart said: Awesome stuff! Thanks Kevin - the count is up to 13 for bushings in this rebuild with 2 more to go in the tie bar.... Bill 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,905 #4 Posted March 24, 2022 Nice! It’ll be driving better than 1962! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #5 Posted March 24, 2022 Nice to see you to have my fetish for tight steering! I didn't have any problems with the lower gear tho so only have about 10 bushings in this one including to ones in the clutch linkages & hood hinge. 1 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 7,874 #6 Posted March 24, 2022 Really nice work! Even got a Pete fitting ready to go! 4 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #7 Posted March 24, 2022 21 minutes ago, WHX?? said: Nice to see you to have my fetish for tight steering! Glad to see the angling vise was bolted to the table for that - I don't have one, so I had to get "creative" with the regular milling vise and clamps. But that allowed me to fly cut the top first. Bill 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #8 Posted March 24, 2022 12 minutes ago, JoeM said: Really nice work! Even got a Pete fitting ready to go! If you look close Joe, you can see just a trace of @peter lena's favorite all-purpose green grease left in the small hole after I flushed the fitting... Bill 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,828 #9 Posted March 24, 2022 Was worried about the fit up Bill with just a press since I don't' have a mill, or your skill with one. Came out nice tho. I didn't need to bush the lower hole as it was darn near factory tight yet. Did add a greasy pete fitting tho just for practice. BTW don't forget to drill a small hole in the bush under the pete fitting....... 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #10 Posted March 24, 2022 (edited) 3 hours ago, WHX?? said: BTW don't forget to drill a small hole in the bush under the pete fitting....... Been there, done that.... Not drilling the hole would be the equivalent of what happened to an Electrical Engineer I used to work with. He had a new stone chimney with a flue liner installed for a wood stove in the just added on family room. The contractor forgot to punch the hole thru the liner!! No wonder the CO alarm kept going off.... Bill Edited March 24, 2022 by ri702bill 2 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
peter lena 8,634 #11 Posted March 24, 2022 @ri702bill@JoeM thanks for the pictures and reference , terrific detailing and build quality , as you know that green lucas grease will only enhance the smooth / solid movement set up . love it when something that was clumsy . stiff to operate , now moves without effort . in my thinking on a fix / repair , routinely go thru its function , and detail out what ever else i find . always done that , not to start an argument , but just how i finished the issue. glad for you and your work , pete 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 8,327 #12 Posted March 24, 2022 5 hours ago, WHX?? said: Nice to see you to have my fetish for tight steering! I didn't have any problems with the lower gear tho so only have about 10 bushings in this one including to ones in the clutch linkages & hood hinge. Kind of makes you wonder if any of the original Pond family check out this forum from time to time ...If they do, I think they would approve all the extra effort we all put in to keep the Herd running... Bill 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites