Steering box problems

Topic: Steering box problems (Read 1029 times) previous topic - next topic

Steering box problems

February 08, 2020, 10:20:35 am

Anyone know where I can get a steering box repair on the road in NEW JERSEY on 95 heading to FLORIDA STAYING ON 95

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #1 – February 08, 2020, 02:29:32 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 08, 2020, 10:20:35 am

Anyone know where I can get a steering box repair on the road in NEW JERSEY on 95 heading to FLORIDA STAYING ON 95

Unless someone has contacted you directly with a good solution, any truck repair shop should be able to do your repair.
Did your steering box spring a leak? There's a seal kit for that.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #2 – February 08, 2020, 03:10:03 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – February 08, 2020, 02:29:32 pm

Unless someone has contacted you directly with a good solution, any truck repair shop should be able to do your repair.
Did your steering box spring a leak? There's a seal kit for that.

yes I did I have a kit and I replace the end cap seal because it was leaking at home with out taking the box off didn't have a puller I took the easy way out now it's coming back to bite me I read that I should replace it but didn't I'm on my way to Florida 1500 miles down the road and the pitmen seal start leaking it's making a mess every time I stop I think I can make to Florida it's the weekend not to many place open on Saturday afternoon I do have the rest of the kit with me not the tools

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #3 – February 08, 2020, 04:59:34 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 08, 2020, 03:10:03 pm

Yes I dod I have a kit. The pitmen seal start leaking it's making a mess every time I stop I think I can make to Florida it's the weekend not to many place open on Saturday afternoon I do have the rest of the kit with me not the tools .

I've been following the posts on the Shepard steering box seals reaching their retirement age so I guess Florida is the place to go.

From what I've read you'll need to find a welding shop to cobble up a puller, purchase a couple of large wrenches you probably don't already own, and find a "Bubba" to help with the heavy lifting.

My memory ain't what it used to be, but there is a Forum member who makes the puller, maybe he can send you a drawing to work from. I *think* welders can read.

Art Joly

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #4 – February 08, 2020, 05:36:17 pm

Don't know where you guys are headed in Florida, or how serious your leak is, but...

If you are able to limp that far and land anywhere near Leesburg, then Paul Yasbeck is a highly recommended mechanic.

Info in thread linked below (Reply #3 and Reply #5):

Steering Box oil leak

Paul's operation is a factory approved Service Center:

Foretravel Motorcoach - Service Center Locations

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #5 – February 08, 2020, 07:46:14 pm

Rick
Depending on how bad the leak is................ Florida is a long way from Jersey. When mine blew out it was leaking way to much to travel anywhere near that far. You may need to find a truck repair shop and see what they can do for you. If you can work in a couple of days to allow for a repaired Sheppard box to be sent to you and installed? You will definitely rest a lot easier for the rest of the trip.

Leaky steering boxes sure can make a mess of the undercarriage and side of the coach.............. I found out the hard way.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #6 – February 08, 2020, 08:22:48 pm

Quote from: FourTravelers – February 08, 2020, 07:46:14 pm

Rick
Depending on how bad the leak is................ Florida is a long way from Jersey. When mine blew out it was leaking way to much to travel anywhere near that far. You may need to find a truck repair shop and see what they can do for you. If you can work in a couple of days to allow for a repaired Sheppard box to be sent to you and installed? You will definitely rest a lot easier for the rest of the trip.

Leaky steering boxes sure can make a mess of the undercarriage and side of the coach.............. I found out the hard way.

it not leaking much I repair the side cap which was leaking to bad to travel with out removing the box from coach I didn't have a pitmen puller now it's the seal at pitmen arm just leaking enough to make a mess on ground . Drove 300 miles today it took less than a pint. Going to limp along till Monday and find the first place that can take it in no rush should have replaced it before leaving instead of taking short cut

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #7 – February 08, 2020, 08:36:01 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – February 08, 2020, 05:36:17 pm

Don't know where you guys are headed in Florida, or how serious your leak is, but...

If you are able to limp that far and land anywhere near Leesburg, then Paul Yasbeck is a highly recommended mechanic.

Info in thread linked below (Reply #3 and Reply #5):

Steering Box oil leak

Paul's operation is a factory approved Service Center:

Foretravel Motorcoach - Service Center Locations

thanks for the information I'm going to try calling tomorrow or Monday it not leaking bad Just Enough enough to make spots every time I stop add about a pint in two days of driving try to get it in some place on Monday

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #8 – February 08, 2020, 10:04:18 pm

Replace the oil and just carry on till you meet up with Paul. Then relax
JohnH

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #9 – February 11, 2020, 12:42:30 pm

My steering box started leaking in Atlantic City NJ at the pitmen seal had the Cap seal repair before leaving Nova Scotia Tuesday Feb 04 on Saturday Feb 08 started leaking . on the week end drove to Myrtle Beach South Carolina yesterday Monday spent all day trying to have it repaired try three different truck shops one kept me there for five hours before they told me he didn't want to tackle it I finally got through to Paul Yasbeck in Leesburg in Florida said he would do it now have to try to make it there over 500 miles away I can see there are place that don't like working on these coaches Paul can't do the job before two weeks just hope I can make it to his place do have FMCA ROAD SIDE and CAA PREMIER RV I guess I'll get it there one way or the other yesterday put about 150 miles and use half a gallon of oil it's not a good feeling I guess I've got two weeks to get there somehow L.O.L Starting to think I made a bad decision purchasing a Foretravel It's a beautiful coach beautiful driving coach but the troubles are nightmares and they seem to be common on All these older coaches

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #10 – February 11, 2020, 12:44:35 pm

Find Don's post on how he limped to a campground using a container to catch the oil.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #11 – February 11, 2020, 12:47:17 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 11, 2020, 12:42:30 pm

My steering box started leaking in Atlantic City NJ at the pitmen seal had the Cap seal repair before leaving Nova Scotia Tuesday Feb 04 on Saturday Feb 08 started leaking . on the week end drove to Myrtle Beach South Carolina yesterday Monday spent all day trying to have it repaired try three different truck shops one kept me there for five hours before they told me he didn't want to tackle it I finally got through to Paul Yasbeck in Leesburg in Florida said he would do it now have to try to make it there over 500 miles away I can see there are place that don't like working on these coaches Paul can't do the job before two weeks just hope I can make it to his place do have FMCA ROAD SIDE and CAA PREMIER RV I guess I'll get it there one way or the other yesterday put about 150 miles and use half a gallon of oil it's not a good feeling I guess I've got two weeks to get there somehow L.O.L Starting to think I made a bad decision purchasing a Foretravel It's a beautiful coach beautiful driving coach but the troubles are nightmares and they seem to be common on All these older coaches

Many motorhomes and otr trucks use the same steering box. My brother's '05 Monaco has one also, just easier to get out. Don't fault Foretravel on this one.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #12 – February 11, 2020, 01:12:18 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 11, 2020, 12:42:30 pm

Starting to think I made a bad decision purchasing a Foretravel It's a beautiful coach beautiful driving coach but the troubles are nightmares and they seem to be common on All these older coaches

Playing the Devil's Advocate here, but . . . once one seal starts to leak the other's go in rapid order.

You can always have you wife phone ahead to truck repair shops and ask while you drive. It never hurts to ask.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #13 – February 11, 2020, 01:21:50 pm

Buying a motorcoach is and always be a dice roll.

Not for the faint of wallet. "Expensive hobby" according to my Cummins shop service writer.

But the rewards of exploring one of the most beautiful continents at your leisure seem a good trade off.

I started rebuilding this coach the week it became ours. Doubled our initial investment. Still not done.

I have learned from many others here the issues that have occurred to them and the fixes.

I am proactive not reactive. I assumed every system and moving part was bad until checked.

The "bones" in general are so good that we felt the money put into this coach would be rewarded.

For us having this coach is not just for traveling but as we live in "shaky town" and a emergency residence seems prudent.

No way out of la after a major disaster. Blocked roads. Crazy folks with nothing. Needing everything.

So we rebuilt our coach. Rebuilt our houses systems and strengthened its structure. Rebuilt my moms empty townhome in Las Vegas as a 300 mile away family refuge.

Been stocking up on water and power systems to help us if everything goes bad.

Going to be able to park the coach crosswise in our driveway and plug the house into the coach. 83 amps should do it.

300+ hours gen run time may help.

Rebuilt/repainted my 20 year old large superduty 4x4 truck.

Coach is walking distance from the house. Added 7 gallons of propane yesterday to finish filling everything on the coach.

Pray we need none of this and can laugh about it later. Lots of friends sort of look at us like we are crazy. Maybe.

Plus we told ourselves when I ran the ca stores sales dept that "someday we would own a Foretravel."

Someday occurred so we went with it.

"Freedom machine"

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #14 – February 11, 2020, 01:50:46 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – February 11, 2020, 01:12:18 pm

Playing the Devil's Advocate here, but . . . once one seal starts to leak the other's go in rapid order.

You can always have you wife phone ahead to truck repair shops and ask while you drive. It never hurts to ask.

we did try and some you where talking to a answering machine and didn't call you back some said six week waiting some said first come first Serve Service but they were 500 miles away we try about six calls and 3 visits And ask if they could recommend a place we shall try for Florida and if we don't make it will start calling around again I'm sure there's some place in the area but at least Paul has worked on for Foretravel One place Told us they will never work on a motor home that they were just nightmares with the ones they work on in the pass never had this problem back home it like they have all the work they need and don't need a motor home when they see that the Pitman arm Has to be removed before they can take the box off They shake their head and say that a big and duty job and very Tight one place told us we'll pray for u that u make it to Florida maybe it was just a bad day today were just sitting in the campground thinking of are options so Discourage with yesterday's experience

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #15 – February 11, 2020, 02:02:18 pm

If you have the remote radiator, it is time consuming job to say the least. The on the road trucks make it simple to remove the steering boxes. Motorhome manufacturers build completely around it, not worrying about future work on them. I personally see why a truck repair would pass after removing mine. You wouldn't be happy with the bill and they wouldn't be happy tying up a bay for a week while waiting for a rebuilder to do the box. They would not have the equipment to deal with the saginaw balls.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #16 – February 11, 2020, 02:54:50 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 11, 2020, 01:50:46 pm

They shake their head and say that a big and duty job and very Tight. One place told us we'll pray for you that you make it to Florida. Maybe it was just a bad day today. We're just sitting in the campground thinking of our options so discouraged with yesterday's experience.

I understand. But nothing that won't look different tomorrow. I don't know how many stretches of 150 miles you have left, but even if your leak worsens to 1/2 gallon every 100 miles you will make it to your destination.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #17 – February 11, 2020, 04:02:52 pm

I can tell you that I have had marvelous results with this stuff. Used it in numerous applications. Hopefully it will work for you, not a lot to lose at this point. I expect it will at least slow down the leak significantly.

LUCAS HYDRAULIC OIL BOOSTER AND STOP LEAK (Not Lucas power steering stop leak.)

It comes in 1 gallon containers. Amazon sells it as do most parts stores. Add the maximum dose for 5 gallons of oil. You will probably have to remove some oil from the reservoir. I add it to every piece of hydraulically operated equipment I own. It's been in my Foretravel power steering/fan system for years with no ill effects. Give it a try.

PS....You have to run the equipment a bit for it to start working....cant just dump it in and expect to work.

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #18 – February 11, 2020, 05:58:00 pm

Quote

I can tell you that I have had marvelous results with this stuff.

Sold! Hoping to stave off what seems the inevitable. Amazon has it for $34 and Tractor Supply for $28 per gallon. Instructions indicate a 20% solution for stop leak action so I guess one gallon would be the ticket.
jor

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #19 – February 12, 2020, 03:48:33 pm

Left Myrtle Beach this morning just arrived in Florida Stop twice to check power steering fluid didn't lose a drop all day 300 miles after four days of leaking and 2 gals of oil Who can figure that one out still going to get the box change

Re: Steering box problems

Reply #20 – February 12, 2020, 06:18:58 pm

Quote from: Cape Bretoner – February 12, 2020, 03:48:33 pm

Left Myrtle Beach this morning just arrived in Florida Stop twice to check power steering fluid didn't lose a drop all day 300 miles after four days of leaking and 2 gals of oil Who can figure that one out still going to get the box change

The adventure doesn't begin until something goes wrong.

Happy Happy Joy Joy on your safe arrival.

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