The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Steering Box Lubricant Question

When I bought my 1952 3100 several months ago, the PO told me that the steering box had been rebuilt but that it was leaking lubricant from sitting idle. Well, the box has continued to leak in spite of regular use so maybe the wrong kind of lubricant was added (or I know, the box was never rebuilt). Regardless, I searched the forums and found that John Deere corn head grease is the best recommended lubricant for the box. Stopped by the local John Deere tractor place last week and got two 14 oz tubes. The question I have is should the box be completely drained before adding any of the JD grease? If so, how do you drain the box? Also, how much of the grease should be added? Since it’s thick, I assume it won’t just run out of the filler opening and I defiintely don’t want to add too much.

Many thanks for your help.

Good job on using the search feature. The more you can get out the better. The only way to clean it all out is take the box apart. I'd get a suction gun or turkey baster a suck out as much as possible. It take some time to fill it with the corn head grease. Take your time and work it in. I fill mine to the bottom of the plug. I also jack the front wheels up and turn the wheel slowly lock to lock a few times, this helps work the grease through the moving parts.

Like Don said, the more of the old grease or oil you get out the better, it will just dilute the new grease. Fill it with mineral spirits to clean and thin whats there, then suck it out or drain it if it has a plug. You could crack the side cover open a bit and drain it that way.
I used a heavy plastic bag full of grease with one corner cut off, think of a pastry chef, and squeezed it in.

Joe

From what I've read, the box can be overfilled - way overfilled. Someone here a few years back said he filled his so much it went up the steering shaft and leaked into the cab, so be careful!

My opinion is if the old grease is chassis or bearing grease it should be removed as much as possible before putting the JD grease in. It's doing no good since it's not self leveling. If the existing grease is correct for the steering box I'd just add the JD as necessary.

When I got my corn head grease from a JD dealership in New Hampshire, the counterman said a good thing about the stuff is it mixes well with SAE 90 gear oil. I would expect the same might not be true for grease.

If it has gear oil in it (the usual suspect when leaking) you'll get most of it by removing the lowermost cover bolt. Scare up a cake decorating bag to fill it easily.

i used a grease gun to fill all mine. when done remove the fitting and put the plug back on.

Thanks to all for your input. Will use the turkey baster to remove as much oil as possible. Since it been leaking for literally years, shouldn't be too much in there. Will fill it up to the fill opening.

I appreciate your help.

Has anyone else put mineral spirits through the box to clean it out? I like the idea....but it kinda scares me!

Parts cleaner, kerosine, gasoline, anything that will thin out the oil/grease and evaporate away when done. Mineral spirits is the least toxic. There is nothing in the gear box that can hurt by it. I would fill it to the top and work the steering back and forth to really clean it out.

Joe

Draining is not going to get all of the gasoline or mineral spirits out and it won't evaporate very fast without some help. I would blow air through it for about 10 min after draining.