Since we’ve had a 1948 ½ ton 3100 about 21 yrs of which 16 or so it spent that time in R&R and its steering box condition unknow. After verification of the grease level (years ago) in it we added about 2 spoon full of high temperature axel bearing grease. That said, are you’ll of the opinion that we should remove, clean and apply the Corn Head grease ?
The truck has been on the road no more than 40-50 miles with only one occasion that we weren’t able to shift after stopping. However once we restarted the engine it shifted very well.
You may do that if you wish. Everyone is of course entitled to their own opinion. However, here is what I'd do. I would remove the sector shaft cover, the sector gear and shaft, remove the old shaft seal and replace with a new one, polish the pitman arm end of the sector shaft if needed (and it may need it). Sometimes those get cruddy and refuse to seal well after that...use Flitz or MAAS or something, clean the box well and check all the bushing tolerances, make a new sector cover gasket from something like manila folder paper (it is a thin gasket), re-adjust according to the manual, using some thread sealer or non-hardening gasket sealer on the front threads, check to see if the sector adjuster needs shimming, replace the cover and well-sealed gasket you made, adjust the sector gear according to the manual, sealing those threads and then I'd fill it with either 140 mono-grade oil or a mix of 90 weight and corn head grease...somewhere between 70/30 and 50/50. When it is thick and will self-level you will be okay. You can also use an inch-pound torque wrench to see when you hit center on the sector gear. Or you can pay attention when you re-assemble using a bit of masking tape on the top of the pitman arm and frame to show where dead center of the middle tooth of the sector gear is when it is smack dab in the middle of the ball nut so you'll know later...that will be your high spot and where you want things to be for the right straight-on adjustment. Jerry and I have discussed the torque wrench use here before. You will know when you hit the high spot because the needle will start going up and peak around 11 from where it was.
