Ross Box lubrication

I have a slow leak in my Ross steering gear box. However, I do not want to pull it until I have a new sector shaft on hand to install while I have it out (been lookin' for a year). Thinking about runnin' 140wt instead of 90wt and see if the heavier oil leaks more slowly. Would this cause me other problems? Anyone ever run a heavier oil in the steering gear box?

 

I use general purpose grease and just squirt it in the 1/8 npt fitting.

 

Carl Walck recommends using 90w. I had already greased the box post rebuild. I assumed grease was ok since there was a zerk installed. I believe that the consensus is to use 90w or something heavier. Sometime I will get the grease out.

 

Cold temps and heavy weight grease, think about that before doing any thing

 

Thanks All. Grease is a no no. I think I will run some 140 wt. oil for a while and see how it holds up. Cold is not an issue here.

 

My 59 cj5 has had a grease zerk installed sometime in its history. My books all show to use sae 90 but its already too late for my current box. My box is sooooo worn that I get about 4-5 inches free play in the steering wheel measured from the outside of the steering wheel. I just picked up a NOS Crown made in the USA with a jeep dealership label on it from ebay about 2 weeks ago and once I get the rest of my steering parts on hand I will be going through it all at once soon. and just fyi I checked my tie rods and they all seem tight with no slop though they are all missing the rubber boots. best I can tell my bell crank is tight so im pretty sure 95% of my play is all in my box. all those years of only grease seems to have SEVERELY worn my box. and the funny thing is once I started putting SAE 90 in it I cant find any leaks at all from the box, so its like why did they install a zerk?

 

I tried the grease thing too.. Bad JuJu.. The 140W worked better but still leaked, just not as fast...

 

I use STP oil treatment or hi-tack oil treatment. Could probably use knuckle pudding too.

 

A new bushing and sector shaft seal is fairly cheap and stopped the leak on mine. The PO had grease in it, I pulled it apart, changed only the sector shaft bushing and seal, put 90W back in it and it doesn't leak yet. Once the bushing gets worn again it will take out the seal I expect.

Don

 

I rebuilt my Ross box and put in 90w. Leaks like crazy. The entire box will leak onto the garage floor overnight. I have to refill it everytime I drive the Jeep. I wish grease worked. It would be less of a pain.

 

If the box has the tube for the horn wire installed, and the sector shaft seal is good, and the sector shaft cover plate (right nomenclature?) gasket is in place with some sealant, these boxes shouldn't leak.
I have heard of more than one Ross box that leaked from the horn wire tube not being properly seated in the casting. Without that there is a hole right out the bottom of the steering box case for lube to run out.

Don