Repair on steering gear box
Most have you have either helped or read about the saga of "where did this come from". http://forums.woodalls.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26925511.cfm Now that that mystery is solved I was...
Forum Discussion
"Someone's Been Into The Woodpile"
As evidenced by a washer that could not have gone missing my itself. IMHO somethings I can live with falling off: Muffler, Insulation, Flex plate cover or splash shield.
But steering that can go Norman Bates isn't something I can endure the threat of.
Time to let a pro, not a mere mechanic but someone who specializes in steering boxes take a look inside and verify that even nastier surprises do not await.
The threaded hole may be drilled exactly to fit a special hardened bolt WITH extra thick HARDENED flat washer. Try to screw in the bolt WITHOUT the thickness of the washer and it may BOTTOM OUT. This allows the box to remain loose on the frame and that is the kiss of death as far as bolt shear is considered. The box moved back and forth and fatigued the bolt.
To make things worse the fool who didn't bother to replace the washer probably tightened the bolt down to the point where it is JAMMED in the threads.
I would use only the factory specified bolt, and let the technician who examines and repairs the problem decide whether or not BLUE LOCKTITE compound would be appropriate.
As evidenced by a washer that could not have gone missing my itself. IMHO somethings I can live with falling off: Muffler, Insulation, Flex plate cover or splash shield.
But steering that can go Norman Bates isn't something I can endure the threat of.
Time to let a pro, not a mere mechanic but someone who specializes in steering boxes take a look inside and verify that even nastier surprises do not await.
The threaded hole may be drilled exactly to fit a special hardened bolt WITH extra thick HARDENED flat washer. Try to screw in the bolt WITHOUT the thickness of the washer and it may BOTTOM OUT. This allows the box to remain loose on the frame and that is the kiss of death as far as bolt shear is considered. The box moved back and forth and fatigued the bolt.
To make things worse the fool who didn't bother to replace the washer probably tightened the bolt down to the point where it is JAMMED in the threads.
I would use only the factory specified bolt, and let the technician who examines and repairs the problem decide whether or not BLUE LOCKTITE compound would be appropriate.
