1932 steering box problems .... help.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

well, how about someone tech me on why the fucking thing gets tight as you turn it and then turns fine and then gets tight agiain. I understand there is a way to adjust them but I have no idea how. Please help me, I am an idiot.
Everything inside is new and I just cant get it to work. Anyone have a nice working one they want to sell me?

fucking help!

[Andy]

They are a problem to adjust allright. If it is tight in mid travel, loosen the nut over the adjusting cone and back it off a little. Very sensitive. I can e-mail Fords instructions if I can find them. Was in the 32 service bullitins. They could not do it either!

[aussiesteve]

Post your fax No and I,ll send the adjustment bulletins.

[Deuce Rails]

Tell us a little more, Gooch.

What parts of the steering are same as stock? Everything? The pitman arm, the drag link, the batwings, the spring, etc...

What parts in the box are new? I heard from a good authority (Bruce Lancaster) that new worm gears are bad.

What gear lube are you using?

Here's the sequence for adjusting the box. (It's best if the box is out of the car, or at least if the drag link is disconnected.):

1) Check for free play in the steering wheel. Any slop should be tightened with the screw on the end of the sector shaft towards the middle of the car, and then locked with the jam nut. This is the first thing to check. Use a short, 90-degree screwdriver.

2) Adjust the eccentric "rivet" at the bottom of the steering box, 90 degrees back from where the steering shaft points. Turn this clockwise until you get a nice, tight fit. If you go through 180 (or 360) degrees, you may need to go to step three, or add more shims to the top of the box that adjust worm end play.

3) The topmost bolt that holds the box to the frame is seated in an eccentric, cone-shaped sleeve. It's used to adjust the worm realtive to the steering teeth. Use this as a last resort, because it's hard to get to, and usually isn't an issue.

Finally, make sure everything is internally clean, and that no gaskets or shims are missing.

These things have a logic of their own, like so many old Ford parts do. Figure out what Henry was thinking, and you'll be halfway there. Just remember, this was still a steering box that was meant to be serviced by the simple backwoods yokle!

--Matt

[34Fordtk]

Are you a "simple backwoods yokle" Paul?? If not you cant adjust this fucking box!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[**DONOTDELETE**]

deuce rails, you are a hero, To answer your question, everything is stock, box, arms, link, everything. I will try all the things you guys suggest and give a report tomorrow. thank you all so much.
Paul

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
Are you a "simple backwoods yokle" Paul?? If not you cant adjust this fucking box!! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

[/ QUOTE ]

"This is so simple a three year old kid could figure it out. Say, could you run out and find me a three year old kid?"

[Bruce Lancaster]

Here's an article from Marco's wonderful Model A site. Note that this is for the '30-31 box, all different parts but same basic design and proceedings. The site also covers reworking original gears to eliminate wear rather than going to dubious repro gears.
http://abarnyard.com/workshop/steering.htm

[TV]

Guys, the 32 box as far as I know is different from the rest. If you want to adjust it, there is an eccentric bolt on the engine side of the box that will adjust out tight spots. The screw and jam nut on the front side will not do this. It was my wish to build a really good 32 box, we took it apart and checked alignment and installed needle brgs. We then adjusted it properly, and you could ask for a better feeling box, understand that this box will never return from a turn, you must turn it both ways.--TV http://www.jalopyjournal.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Bruce Lancaster]

'32 box is same design as '33-34, closly related to the '35 and (again altered) '36. '32 and some '33 were 13:1, others I think 15:1. Pitmen and columns all different.
These all adjust the same way. Late Model A box on Marco's site is a different model with no real interchange, but is same generation Gemmer with same basic design and exactly same adjustment procedure as '32.
Site gives good instructions also for refitting worn gears.
The three adjustments need to be done in order, and sometimes going through the procedure twice gets better results because the adjustments for centering, gear play, and end play do influence one another.
Strange observation: Some but not all of these boxes have copper plating on the unmachined surfaces of gears, a protective coating left from hardening processes like those used for camshafts. From limited number of examples, I think these tend to have less gear wear...
I think boxes were made both by Gemmer itself and by Ford under license (Ford wanted multiple sources so strikes and disasters couldn't bring production to a stop). Probably the different processes relate to this. I'm currently reassemblig a copper type that actually seemed unworn, a real shock--it was a filthy, crusty mess with a column that looked like it had been dredged up from the Titanic.

[Bruce Lancaster]

Another source of tight-loose steering is outside the box: The balls that tie rod and draglink wear oval. On a '32, the ball studs are replaceable and are available from usual places.
Also, several good wrenches have told me the teflon inserts sold by the Model A places for the rod ends significantly reduce steering effort. The backs of the teflon liners usually need to be thinned to get everything together, apparently--normal repro part quality standards...

[Deuce Rails]

[ QUOTE ]
It was my wish to build a really good 32 box, we took it apart and checked alignment and installed needle brgs.

[/ QUOTE ]

TV,

How did you install the needle bearings? That would be a great tech post!

--Matt

[tommy]

http://fototime.com/{A907408A-6C44-4DB4-BCD5-834C74CD01DC}/picture.JPG http://fototime.com/{2C49F867-2F92-4BE1-AA79-E44A78906BA9}/picture.JPG
.
No tech article. I sent mine out to have it done. They are at Hershey every year but I can't find their address now.