Steering rack lube???

[nomad]

How do the Elan community go about lubing and relubing the steering rack? I am considering fitting a zerk to the top of the pinion box where a plug now is but once I fit the body I' not sure there would be room for it.

Kurt

[JonB]

In my case I had the rack off so my procedure was easier. I just wound it out all the way one side, liberally greased the teeth, then same the other side. My rack seems pretty tight - zero play. But I will definitely consider fitting a grease nipple ("zerk") to ease future maintenance.

[nomad]

Well, the closest zerk to fitting the plug hole in my kt is a 1/8 NPT while the plug appears to be 3/8 NF or perhaps a BA thread. Hmmm, nothing is simple. A zilloin zerks out there so I'm sure I can find one.

Kurt

[ericbushby]

Hi Kurt
As it is a British designed item then I would expect it to have a British thread. Try BSP--British Standard Pipe.
BA--British Association, is a small fine thread and was not used on pipe fittings. It`s main use was in electrical equipment and instrumentation.
Good luck
Eric in Burnley
1967 S3SE DHC

[richardcox_lotus]

Well, the closest zerk to fitting the plug hole in my kt is a 1/8 NPT while the plug appears to be 3/8 NF or perhaps a BA thread. Hmmm, nothing is simple. A zilloin zerks out there so I'm sure I can find one.

Kurt

Check this one out

https://www.triumphexp.com/forum/tr6-tech-forum.2/steering-rack-lubrication.1409231/

[bitsobrits]

FWIW-Originally these racks used oil, not grease. Would have to find the owners manual, but believe they spec'd 90 weight.

[nomad]

I have a grease gun dedicated to greasing British steering racks that I have used for around 50 years. It is a standard grease gun with the plunger removed and a quantity of 90 wt poured in. Hold it upright and it pumps 90 or 140 wt just fine. I've used plenty of corn head grease in.....corn heads.....Looks like it would work but I am still a little leary about it getting where it should go and staying there.

Yep, fitting is BSP I believe. It is a straight non tapered thread. Don't remember if BSP is non tapered but imagine it is. If I can get enough space I might just drill and tap the plug for smaller zerk. Got sidetracked on those measurements today.

Kurt

[rgh0]

Just for fun I will open the can of worms

I have used grease in my steering racks as well as in my trunnions for 45+ years and never had a problem. As I have stated previously grease is a superior lubricant in slow moving things like racks and trunnions

Oil will also work, so this is just my personal preference.

I would have to confirm but i think the thread is the same as on the trunnion plug

cheers
Rohan

[Andy8421]

I, too, thought that the rack was supposed to use EP90, but checking the manual it says:

"... pack the unit with grease ..." (the 'unit' being the rack and pinion assembly), and later on,

"repack the bellows with grease (1/2 oz. of Shell Retinax 'A', or similar)..."

So at the risk of a poor musical reference, "Grease is the one that you want."

[nomad]

I, too, thought that the rack was supposed to use EP90, but checking the manual it says:

"... pack the unit with grease ..." (the 'unit' being the rack and pinion assembly), and later on,

"repack the bellows with grease (1/2 oz. of Shell Retinax 'A', or similar)..."

So at the risk of a poor musical reference, "Grease is the one that you want."

Well, then, the corn head grease should be perfect and I can do that as well.

Kurt

[RichardHawkins]

Kurt,

What is corn head grease? I am British and have not come across this before, is it produced from maize, and what is its intended use?

Richard Hawkins

[Andy8421]

Richard,

I came across the reference to 'corn head grease' while I was noodling around on a Triumph forum. I had assumed it referred to some strange lubricant made from parts of corn heads, but (apparently) there is a component on farm machinery called a 'corn head' and this is the grease for it:

https://www.benburgess.co.uk/shop/john-deere-corn-head-grease-400g-mcan102562/

Andy.

[nomad]

Richard,

I came across the reference to 'corn head grease' while I was noodling around on a Triumph forum. I had assumed it referred to some strange lubricant made from parts of corn heads, but (apparently) there is a component on farm machinery called a 'corn head' and this is the grease for it:

https://www.benburgess.co.uk/shop/john-deere-corn-head-grease-400g-mcan102562/

Andy.

Yes, I first discovered it as being used on John Deere corn head gearboxes. In other places I believe it is called "self leveling" grease. I think that it was developed to keep those gearboxes lubed when it was common for them to rapidly leak out their gear oil. Rather tough conditions, especially on seals.

Kurt

[Andy8421]

For those who haven't given up on this thread already, this is a 'corn head':

https://www.deere.com/en/hay-forage/harvesting/rotary-harvesting-heads/770-corn-head/#:~:text=Every%20plant%20is%20pushed%20into,the%20gatherer%20drum%20by%20scrapers.

I am not sure I am any the wiser. It looks like something I saw on Thunderbirds when I was a kid.

[2cams70]

There's specialized greases available for steering boxes:

chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://penriteoil.com.au/assets/pis_pdfs/SEMI%20FLUID%20&%20STEERING%20BOX%20GREASE.pdf

If the manual says use a grease use something like this or if it says use an oil use an oil.

An oil will be specified if the box has been sealed to an extent that allows it in its design. Oil is better if the component is appropriately sealed because it can always flow to places where lubricant has drained back or rubbed off. Grease can’t do that as well as oil.