Steering Gasket

[rickguns]

Hi, the steering is leaking fluid where the shaft goes into the steering sector. I am going to put on a new gasket and then refill with 80/90 gear lube. Should the gasket have sealant put on? If so: one side or both?
Thanks!

[Don McCombs]

Before you change the gasket, drain the housing and refill with the proper amount of gear oil. 3/4 pint. You just may be over full with oil and/or water. While you have the fill plug out, find and clean out the vent hole.

[Dale Finch]

Yes, make sure the vent hole in the filler plug is clear. If you cannot find it, you may need to scrape gunk and paint off...it opens onto one of the flats, makes a 90 degree turn straight down out the bottom of the plug. If it is blocked, as heat builds up in the bolster, it will force oil out the weakest spot, which is that seal at the steering shaft.

Cub vented Steering plug.jpg (18.04 KiB) Viewed 475 times

[Ruralguy57]

I had an issue with my Steering Gear.

I had replaced the fluid in the steering gear. Originally I replaced a dry steering gear box with 80-90 oil. This lasted about 2 weeks maybe 3. The oil leaked out from the seal that was between the base of the tractor and the tractor wheels. I am unable to replace this gasket. This is why I changed it differently. I flushed the entire gear box with diesel fuel, taking out the steering worm gear. I replaced that gasket and filled the gear box with lubricant. I have documented this in my thread. I did not refill it with oil, but did something else. Not everyone agrees with what I did. However, I did contact a farmer who uses larger International tractors. He agreed to do what I did, as he had done the same thing with his larger tractors. He had no issues with what I had done since the entire contents of the steering gear leaked out on the cardboard. I would come into the barn the next day[s] and see the shaft between the wheels was covered in oil as well as the pitman in that spot and cardboard on the floor. I replaced several sheets of cardboard as the steering gear box leaked. Currently the tractor still seeps oil a tiny bit to mark the cardboard. It is in no way the same amount as the 80-90 gear oil spot. The lubricant must be working well, because the lubricant is seeping out the gasket between the steering gear rod and the seal when the tractor has been used for about 2 or 3 hrs. A small trail of lubricant seeps out the seal and down the steering gear box to the plate under it.


Richard

[inairam]

100% agree with Dale.

I do not think that the importance of maintenance on the Cub vented Steering plug gets the attention it deserves. The bolster is hot from the radiator the lubrication and air in it gets hot and expands. If the air has no place to go it build up pressure forcing the oil through the seal.

A minute with an adjustable wrench and a small drill bit and maybe some degreaser is a much better option than using different oils or replacing seals.

[FIRSTCUB]

Good info in the vent, I will be checking mine !

[coppersmythe]

Yes, make sure the vent hole in the filler plug is clear. If you cannot find it, you may need to scrape gunk and paint off...it opens onto one of the flats, makes a 90 degree turn straight down out the bottom of the plug. If it is blocked, as heat builds up in the bolster, it will force oil out the weakest spot, which is that seal at the steering shaft.
Cub vented Steering plug.jpg

good morning all from the slightly chilly deep south ( i may put on long pants for the morning !) . thanks dale , its the little things that seem to fall by the wayside , till there is a problem . i'll b checking mine soon . we have our annual hayride/parade in two weeks . 4 of mine cubs ( hopefully ) will be ready to tour the neighborhood . Dale always somehow finds the photo that makes whatever the issue easy to do coppersmythe..............

[rickguns]

Thanks all! This old Cub did get a beautiful paint job and the vent hole did get painted over. Will use a very small drill bit to open it back up. I'm sure that sealed vent hole has caused the leak around the gasket..........makes great sense.........that's why I asked here.........a source of great sense