Steering box oil

Technical questions and Maintenance advice post in here please
Mark Thornton
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Steering box oil

Post by Mark Thornton »

Hello,

I have had a bottle of oil for many years and topped the box up as required, I have used and thrown it away, can't remember what grade it was - ?

Any suggestions what grade to use - I think it was possibly SEA30 but not sure, what would a modern equivalent of that be?

Thanks

Mark
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by A40FARINAGURU »

Mark Thornton wrote:Hello,

I have had a bottle of oil for many years and topped the box up as required, I have used and thrown it away, can't remember what grade it was - ?

Any suggestions what grade to use - I think it was possibly SEA30 but not sure, what would a modern equivalent of that be?

Thanks

Mark
i'm running with liquid grease in mine as oil leaks out bad

viewtopic.php?f=10&t=7557&start=255
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Tight Yorkshireman
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Tight Yorkshireman »

Put an "O" ring in mine and no leaks with a thick oil

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Paulc
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Paulc »

Mark,

In the Olyslager manual they recommend EP90 but I've always used EP140 or STP oil.
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Edosan »

EP 140 for me :thumbs:
Mark Thornton
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Mark Thornton »

Many thanks for those responses,

Very helpful - I think 140 it is, Just got to find some locally now?

Thanks

MARK
Big Daddy
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Big Daddy »

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Neil Evans
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Neil Evans »

I'm currently trying Land Rover front swivel hub oil in one as a test bed. A friend has suggested that Morris Steam Cylinder Oil is probably as thick an oil as you can get, though Wynns Engine Treatment is probably thicker still... :whistle:
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Hoppend
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Steering box oil

Post by Hoppend »

My dad is trying ep-0 grease in his.

I put a thick o-ring in the groove and that holds regular oil really wel! O-rings are very inexpensive an easily obtainable.

A related question: would somone know where to get replacement pins for the steering box? It's the pin that follows the groove in the cilindrical part attached to the steering axle.
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Big Daddy
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Big Daddy »

Just a thought :idea:

Does grease provide proper lubrication of the high load contact faces (worm and peg) or does it get displaced into the steering box cavities and sit there uselessly :?:
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Hoppend
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Steering box oil

Post by Hoppend »

Well it should work. it is a low viscosity grease. EP indicates that it is an extreme pressure grease

EP-0 grease description:


Gear Grease EP 0 is a semi-fluid, multipurpose grease based on highly refined, highly viscous base oils,

https://www.kroon-oil.com/en/catalogue/ ... ep-0/1574/

It has a base oil viscosity of 90 mm²/s at 40 degC

It most certainly will penetrate the whole box.
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Big Daddy
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Big Daddy »

Hoppend wrote:Gear Grease EP 0 is a semi-fluid, multipurpose grease based on highly refined, highly viscous base oils...
Specific Gear Grease EP0 appears suitable for this application... :thumbs:

But how many will use this special Gear Grease :?: Suspect most will use something more general like Castrol LM. That will get displaced from the high load contact areas especially in low temperature applications like a steering box, where the grease remains viscous.

I wonder if LM grease provides adequate lubrication to prevent accelerated wear :?:

http://msdspds.castrol.com/bpglis/Fusio ... 9VWDP5.pdf
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Dave Clark
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Dave Clark »

I don,t think it is rocket science to see that most ordinary greases will be totally unsuitable for an A35 steering box.As BD says it will be displaced and never get back to the places it needs to be to lubricate the box.

Either strip the box and add a proper seal or just use EP90 and keep it topped up. The leakage will rustproof the parts of the shell below the steering box.

I used to advocate the use of motorcycle chain grease, heated, to flow down and settle round the spindle to provide a seal of sorts, but this is a short term solution at best.

In my view no matter how thick an oil you put in there, if the seal is not working (99% of the time) it will leak some anyway.
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Hoppend
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Hoppend »

He is also prepairing a new box with an o-ring. It is not supposed to be a permanent fix.

The thought was that it is better to have grease that stays inside. Rather than that to have oil that drains out.

He will switch back to regular oil once the unit with o-ring is in place.

What size o-ring do you guys use?
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Mark Thornton
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Re: Steering box oil

Post by Mark Thornton »

Hello all,

Great replies and suggestions, thanks very much,

I have go hold of some 140 this afternoon on the way home from work and put that in, well topped it up, made a great difference - feels allot better, also put some in the idler as well. I've had a run round and the difference is noticeable -

Thanks all

Mark
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