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Re: steering gear box

Reply #25 –
Bern'd is excellent about responding for assistance even when the request is after hours. Based on my experience, he does not need a web page but another FT tech.
John
1998 U270 34'

Re: steering gear box

Reply #26 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
Independent shop in Nacogdoches that does Chassis and engine work on Foretravels and OTR equipment. Dabbles in German cars as well

"dabbles"....  :giggle:

For those going to Bernd for the first time, keep in mind he, like Xtreme, are cash and check only, no plastic.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: steering gear box

Reply #27 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
Bernd Ramspeck
 Dabbles in German cars as well

For anyone that knows Bernd, this gives a new meaning to Dabbles,  kind of like saying jumbo shrimp.

Pamela

Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: steering gear box

Reply #28 –
Talked to Redhead Steering Gears yesterday. Found out they are not set up to pull the steering gear. You need to have a shop pull the unit (or do it yourself) and send or deliver the unit to them. They will then rebuild it within 24 hours. Asked the guy if they could eliminate the 1/4" to 3/8" play I have in my steering. He said if it's in the steering gear they can. Also asked what they do to the unit and he ran through a list of things but instead of me listing them here I found this on their website.

Quote
Red-Head Steering Gears Re-manufacturing Process

    Machining out the housings and installing needle bearings
    Flame-spraying or replacing the shafts as needed Installing new control valves on some applications
    Custom fitting each worm & piston assembly with special ordered, precise over-sized ball bearings.


Other things we do to produce a top quality product include:

    Install every sector shaft on a lathe to check for straight and true,
    polish the sealing surface to a higher polish than new.


Some original housings are manufactured without bushing or bearings. This is commonly seen in some Ford steering gears and Chrysler steering gears.  We rebore these units and install needle bearings.

We use only the highest quality seals. All our seals are either O.E.M. or produced by two high quality, long time suppliers of our industry.

Probably the most unique and important thing we do is custom fit every single worm and piston assembly with new precision fit steel balls. This is a process not matched by any other company in the industry. This process is very important. The machining tolerances of the original manufacturing leave a small and varying amount of play that can be corrected in no other way.

Why don't other builders do this? It is expensive and time consuming to set up. This is one of the reasons you may find another unit somewhere else for less money but the quality cannot be beat. This is why we proudly declare that we are "Not the Biggest... Just the Best!"

We also stock what we have found to be the highest quality RACK and PINION units available. Although these units are not built in-house, we have selected the highest quality manufacturer and product we could find. They have the most comprehensive testing process in the business


see ya
ken
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: steering gear box

Reply #29 –
Quote from: lenspeiser –
Lon,
We must be twin brothers from separate mothers! I do appreciate all of the input and advice. I have a while to work through this as we are not full timers yet. One thing that I have seen from posts with pictures of the process is removal of the headlight housing. Is this for access behind the headlight or for access THROUGH the headlight opening? My coach had the headlight conversion done before we got it, so I don't know if that will make it even harder.

I am glad that you gave your project supervisor proper credit for the timely and precision application of mechanical advantage. I find myself not thanking mine enough. After all, while I am merely the pilot of the coach, she is the nagivator.

I will be visiting with you soon.
Len

I did not remove the headlights. I could see no advantage to doing this. I have the Kubota 4cyl. generator with the cooling fan and radiator located in the front drivers bay. The radiator exits heat into the front left wheel well.
After the fanbox and radiator are removed (good time to paint and clean both) the rubber compartment walls and floor are easy to remove. This leaves wide open access to the left side of the steering box. No need to work at it from the headlight area.
When the generator is slide full forward the access panel behind the generator floor is removed. I cut mine bigger so I would not have to struggle in the small provided space ( I made a new larger cover). You then remove the panel to the left of the generator wall (sheet metal screws) and there is full access to the right side of the steering box.
Its ALL MAN VS MACHINE from that point on!
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: steering gear box

Reply #30 –
My steering gear is also leaking. I live in Houston and was planning to take it to Chalk's Truck Parts for the rebuild...but after reading all of the info and reports on Redhead I think I will send it off.  Seems like a leaking Sheppard steering gear is a common problem. I am curious if anyone that has had one rebuilt by Redhead has ever had it leak again?
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487

Re: steering gear box

Reply #31 –
Len,
I noticed you had the 270, I also, have the 270.  The gear is very accessible, by removing bottom gen set cover (2 nuts on frt edge and 2 bolts at the rear).  Slide the generator all the way out and the access hole to the pitman arm and mounting bolts are easy to get to.  Also, going thru the frt. drivers side compartment gives you easy access to the lines and steering column mounting.
I recently replaced the top seal and moved the leak to the side cover, and figured rather than continue to chase the leak I would have it rebuilt.  I didn't pull my gear due to the weight and the fact I have a ruptured disc, and the fact the puller is about $140 on Ebay and a shop pulled it $150.  I couldn't find the $10 savings worthwhile.
Jerry
Jerry & Nanci
1999 U270 34'WTFI
2011 Malibu
A smart man knows what to say, a wise man knows when to say it.

Re: steering gear box

Reply #32 –
Quote from: Karl Shurtleff –
Seems like a leaking Sheppard steering gear is a common problem. I am curious if anyone that has had one rebuilt by Redhead has ever had it leak again?

Karl,

You might want to search the forum for previous discussions on the Sheppard unit and Brett Wolfe's (wolfe10) guidance to make sure you have the stops set correctly for your coach (I don't believe this is something that Sheppard can do for you) to prevent premature failure or a recurring issue, especially related to leaks.  I believe Dave (JD) Stevens has posted how he and Marilyn did this themselves.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: steering gear box

Reply #33 –
Quote from: Michelle –
Karl,

You might want to search the forum for previous discussions on the Sheppard unit and Brett Wolfe's (wolfe10) guidance to make sure you have the stops set correctly for your coach (I don't believe this is something that Sheppard can do for you) to prevent premature failure or a recurring issue, especially related to leaks.  I believe Dave (JD) Stevens has posted how he and Marilyn did this themselves.
Thanks Michelle!
I have seen Brett's comments and discussions. In fact that is what swayed me to go to Redhead instead of a local shop. I  also have watched the video on setting the stops. Plan to pull it off Sunday and get it shipped put next week. Mine only has 25K miles on it. It went bad sitting in storage. I will check out JD's post as well.
Inch by inch .....
Karl Shurtleff
Kingwood, TX
94 U280 Grand Villa 36'
Build #4487

Re: steering gear box

Reply #34 –
Quote from: Green99 –
Len,
I noticed you had the 270, I also, have the 270.  The gear is very accessible, by removing bottom gen set cover (2 nuts on frt edge and 2 bolts at the rear).  Slide the generator all the way out and the access hole to the pitman arm and mounting bolts are easy to get to.  Also, going thru the frt. drivers side compartment gives you easy access to the lines and steering column mounting.
I recently replaced the top seal and moved the leak to the side cover, and figured rather than continue to chase the leak I would have it rebuilt.  I didn't pull my gear due to the weight and the fact I have a ruptured disc, and the fact the puller is about $140 on Ebay and a shop pulled it $150.  I couldn't find the $10 savings worthwhile.
Jerry

I have mentioned this before, and will again now.
If you need the Sheppard pitman arm puller I have one that is available to borrow. You pay the S&H both ways. I also have the 3/4" drive socket to remove the pitman arm retaining bolt.
Just call or email me.
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.
 

Re: steering gear box

Reply #35 –
Lately, if we think of it before turning off engine after parking, we leave the steering wheel and front tires not facing forward, so the pitman arm weight does not hang in the same position.  I hope this will help the shaft seal from being deformed in the same place and preventing oil leaks.
I got the idea from our Forum.