Full Floater Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 I have this Ross steering box on this 75 R685 Western. The steering is just a tad too loose. It's not nearly as bad as some that I have driven. If I could tighten it up just a bit, I would be happy. What is the/is there a procedure for this box? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 My main questions are: Does the pitman arm NEED to come off for proper adjustment? And does the set screw get adjusted in the "center" of steering movement where there is the most play, or with the steering turned to one side? I'm reading conflicting info on the old "www" Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-545975 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenbjackson Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 (edited) the adjusting screw should be on opposite side than the pitman arm, other end of sector shaft frame side! should be a screw in center of cap. screw is tightened to no lash, which is measured with torque wrench AT INPUT shaft while rotating side to side(15-20lb in) . then back out one turn and tighten for a tightness of 2-4lb in at the input shaft while turning it side to side, pass center. Center must be passed for correct adjustment, highest and tightest point is the center. Next tighten Jam nut to 20-25lb FT. lastly check by rotating input shaft through entire travel back and forth five cycles. properly adjusted will not exceed 15lb in at input shaft. check "reverse torque" through the OUTPUT shaft, full travel , through a complete cycle should not exceed 50lb FT! Edited February 2 by glenbjackson 1 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-545988 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted February 2 Author Share Posted February 2 8 hours ago, glenbjackson said: the adjusting screw should be on opposite side than the pitman arm, other end of sector shaft frame side! should be a screw in center of cap. screw is tightened to no lash, which is measured with torque wrench AT INPUT shaft while rotating side to side(15-20lb in) . then back out one turn and tighten for a tightness of 2-4lb in at the input shaft while turning it side to side, pass center. Center must be passed for correct adjustment, highest and tightest point is the center. Next tighten Jam nut to 20-25lb FT. lastly check by rotating input shaft through entire travel back and forth five cycles. properly adjusted will not exceed 15lb in at input shaft. check "reverse torque" through the OUTPUT shaft, full travel should not exceed 50lb FT! MANY thanks! Great info! So just to clarify, when you say "center must be passed" for correct adjustment, does this mean the wheels need to be turned to one side, as long as it's beyond center of of the range of travel? Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546003 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenbjackson Posted February 2 Share Posted February 2 (edited) while rotating from side to side(45 degrees left and right of center i think its marked on case) , back and forth multiple times or complete cycles. the center must be pass and will be passed once each cycle. i hope that clears it up. this procedure is with gear disconnected from stuff and off truck. possibly you can do it on truck idk as long as you can access adjusting screw you just dont want to be measuring fluid and linkage. torque corresponds only to internal clearances and resistance. Edited February 3 by glenbjackson 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546027 Share on other sites More sharing options...
glenbjackson Posted February 3 Share Posted February 3 (edited) so i misspoke after tightening to no lash( measured at input shaft, 15-20lb/in while rotating 90* to each side of center) back out screw one turn and then NOTE the measured tightness/torque (at input shaft, rotating 90* to each side of center) then you tighten it all up with screw until you measure a max rise in torque of 2 to 4lbs/in(from the NOTED torque in previous step) while rotating 45* to each side of center Next tighten Jam nut to 20-25lb/FT lastly check by rotating input shaft back and forth five cycles(rotating 45* to each side of center). properly adjusted will not exceed 2-4lb/in rise from NOTED value at input shaft. check "reverse torque" through the OUTPUT shaft, full travel , through a complete cycle of entire gear should not exceed 50lb FT! Edited February 3 by glenbjackson 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546044 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted February 13 Author Share Posted February 13 Seems like I got it! I'll know after some more driving, but so far on test runs, it's tightened up. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546583 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted February 13 Share Posted February 13 system should have a filter, by chance did you change fluid and filter ?? going by all the torque specs given ; hopefully wheel might feel better just make sure adjustments aren't TOO tight. after driving and system heats up and expands ; wheel doesn't bind up while driving creating serious situation. tad amount of free play needed. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546590 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted February 15 Author Share Posted February 15 On 2/13/2024 at 7:52 AM, mechohaulic said: system should have a filter, by chance did you change fluid and filter ?? going by all the torque specs given ; hopefully wheel might feel better just make sure adjustments aren't TOO tight. after driving and system heats up and expands ; wheel doesn't bind up while driving creating serious situation. tad amount of free play needed. Yes the system does have a filter. I have recently replaced it and the fluid along with all the power steering hoses. I used 15w40 engine oil as per recommendations from somewhere here on a different topic in discussion. I also used a few ounces of Lucas Power Steering additive. 2 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-546689 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted August 24 Author Share Posted August 24 I still have a little more play then i'd like. If I can improve it just slightly more yet, i'd be happy. Not trying to make it perfect, it just needs to be a little better. I just need to clarify something, before I try adjusting once more. When I adjust the screw, am I to be doing so with the steering in dead center, OR does it need to be adjusted with the steering turned to one side or another by a bit. ...to take it out of the high spot in the steering gear. Everything else in the steering is tight and/or new. Including king pins. Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-557536 Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechohaulic Posted August 25 Share Posted August 25 dead center work steering back/forth making sure not tooo tight and binding 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-557593 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted August 25 Author Share Posted August 25 1 hour ago, mechohaulic said: dead center work steering back/forth making sure not tooo tight and binding thanks Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-557597 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vladislav Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 If you try setting backlash or play away from the dead center you will so get overtightness in the center. Actually you may be finding the tightest spot over the box range (near the center) and than relate it to the marks on the housing. Where you are tight and near the center is the spot for the setting. There may be cases (I don't know particulary with Ross but expect so) a steering gear may be assembled wrong during repair in the past. That way the dead center may be not where a mark of it on the housing is. And it's a headach with installation of such a gear and setting its tightness too. Speaking excessive play the most modern steering gears are double reduction. You could check that out regarding Ross by its blow out or cut through diagramm in a manual or on the net. If so the pay may be determined not by the teeth sector only but also by a screw/nut. Usually that mesh is not adjustable and occures play due to wear of mating parts. With way of fixing by change of them. 1 Quote Никогда не бывает слишком много грузовиков! leversole 11.2012 Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-557649 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Full Floater Posted September 21 Author Share Posted September 21 Well I bit the bullet, and replaced the box with a reman one. Nice and tight now. 1 Quote Link to comment https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/73780-another-steering-box-adjustment-thread-ross-box-this-time/#findComment-558872 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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