Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

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Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

March 05, 2018, 08:32:52 am

I am going to pull my steering gear box and send it to Read Head for a blueprint rebuild. At least that is the plan. But a time crunch might get in the way. It is not noticably loose as far as I can tell, the seals are leaking very slowly and have been for 7 years.

Does anyone have a blueprinted gear box ready to go? Looking for a swap? We are in Livingston, TX now.

Is the blueprint rebuild worth the 8 days of shipping compared to taking it to a local rebuilder?

Roger and Susan

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #1 – March 05, 2018, 08:40:02 am

I had mine rebuilt in Houston, Good as new. 2 years and going strong. If you have any questions, PM me.
John

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #2 – March 05, 2018, 08:44:01 am

If I had to do mine I would bite the bullet and go with Redhead,thought they came out better then new.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #3 – March 05, 2018, 09:00:38 am

there was a spare steering box in circulation - not sure who is in possession or it is still "spare"

Dave Her may know with a PM

Tim Fiedler

Sure Start Soft Start

TCER Direct generator-gas-prod 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #4 – March 05, 2018, 10:02:39 am

Where you staying in Livingston Roger? Wish I had time to make the 1.5 hr ride to stop by and say hi...

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #5 – March 05, 2018, 10:36:33 am

Northshore RV park in Onalaska. We will be here for a couple more weeks.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #6 – March 05, 2018, 11:03:54 am

Traveling Man had it and shipped to one of the Forum members as of a couple months ago(if I remember correctly). Sure he will Chime in

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #7 – March 05, 2018, 06:35:44 pm

Last I heard, RedHead had a overnight turn around. If you contact them they will send you a reduced price shipping label both ways.
I seem to recall a couple days both ways shipping.
If you need the R&R tools I have them for you to borrow.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #8 – March 05, 2018, 06:40:31 pm

I have the one from travelnman and have not had a chance to put it in yet.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #9 – March 06, 2018, 12:05:03 am

Thanks for the info.

Readhead blueprint rebuild is $495 plus shipping, about $150 depending on where you are. The said to figure 8 business days for shipping and 2 business days to rebuild. Essentially two weeks.

We are squeezed for time. So we are going to get it done in Houston at Chalk Truck Parts. A day or so turnaround and a day each way for transit. We could be back in the pink by end of the week. A long time slow leak is the main complaint. This should fix it.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #10 – March 06, 2018, 10:50:45 am

Roger,
I sent mine to Redhead and it was less than a week and it was back in. But, I had no leaks but didn't like the wandering which was fixed with rebuild and a re-alignment. Also I was not far from Washington state for the shipping.
If just seals I would not see any reason why a truck shop could not do it easily??
Speedbird 1.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #11 – March 06, 2018, 12:55:16 pm

Check and see if Red Head has a core, or one already rebuilt.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #12 – March 06, 2018, 01:40:01 pm

I did, they don't. FTs have a bit of an odd duck in this world. 8 business days minimum shipping from TX. It weighs well over 100 lbs.

Time is the issue here for us. I was hoping to get it out last Wednesday but it didn't happen until Monday. Shipping it last Wednesday would have worked, yesterday not so well.

Box will be back tomorrow and back in place by Friday, I hope.

Roger

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #13 – March 06, 2018, 01:41:34 pm

Quote from: rbark – March 05, 2018, 06:40:31 pm

I have the one from travelnman and have not had a chance to put it in yet.

Rats! If I had known that you could have sent me the completed on and I would have had RedHead send you mine when it was done.

Roger

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #14 – March 06, 2018, 07:06:14 pm

My understanding is the straight line steering in San Jose furnishes Red head their parts and can be the actual people under subcontract who rebuild the boxes.

Sub office in riverside, ca.

Straight Line Steering Home

At least that's what was posted if memory serves me.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #15 – March 06, 2018, 09:38:31 pm

Sorry Roger, if I had known sooner I would have done that.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #16 – March 06, 2018, 10:51:37 pm

I have been looking for a write up on how to remove the steering box.

Does anyone remember any threads about it?

thanks

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #17 – March 07, 2018, 12:06:53 am

Mine is going back in tomorrow, I will take some pictures. You need to pull out the generator, remove the blower and radiator for the generator, remove a side panel from the generator box or cut a big hole, get a big pitman arm puller and then hold the box up with a jack to disconnect the steering wheel shaft and the remaining bolts. And then deal with more than 100 lbs of a dirty, likely oily hard to manage steering gear.

I was wiped out from watching Beau Reece do it 1/4 the time it would have taken me, not including an ER visit afer it fell and landed on an important part of me.

Better Beau than me.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #18 – March 07, 2018, 12:16:25 am

Thanks Roger, the pics would be a big help, I wish I could keep it at the house but it wont fit in my steep drive.

I do have a motorcycle jack that I can bolt some 2x6's and lay down a sheet of plywood for it to roll on (it is setting on gravel)

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #19 – March 07, 2018, 07:01:30 am

Foretravel has a special pitman arm removal tool that makes the job much simpler. If you call or go by there I believe you can take a look at it and could fabricate or have one fabricated to do the job without removing the side wall or cutting large holes. Other steering box numbers will fit the Foretravel and are less expensive and readily available--- it's what I did. I furnished the box and had it replaced by MOT.
There is a thread out there from last year where I listed the steering box number I used. I bought the box in Houston.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #20 – March 07, 2018, 07:07:03 am

The part number I used on my 1996 U320 was M100PGW1. About half the price of the PDP1 and essentially the same box. Physically identical, with slightly enhanced features.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #21 – March 07, 2018, 07:15:36 am

On the 270's with the different gen if you pull the radiator the whole arm is right there.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #22 – March 07, 2018, 12:44:26 pm

Thanks Kemahjohn, I will check it out

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #23 – March 07, 2018, 12:45:47 pm

Quote from: John44 – March 07, 2018, 07:15:36 am

On the 270's with the different gen if you pull the radiator the whole arm is right there.

Thanks John I am going to try and make it out to the coach tomorrow and get some pictures so I know what all I am dealing with.

Re: Red Head Blueprint Rebuilt Steering Gear

Reply #24 – March 07, 2018, 02:26:23 pm

Quote

On the 270's with the different gen if you pull the radiator the whole arm is right there.

Here's a couple of photos of what John is referring to. This is from my 97 270 with the radiator removed.
jor

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