Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Topic: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn (Read 2422 times) previous topic - next topic

Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

July 06, 2020, 07:06:31 pm

Our faithful 1997 has decided that it is its turn to get a newly rebuilt steering gear.

Small leak appears to be on the top below the steering column universal joint. And the time has come for a rebuilt Redhead unit.

We are in San Diego and our big job is to locate a trusty shop to for the removal and install.

Understand we all have Shepard M100 units, some with manual limits and some with automatic limits.

Is there other model specification details that we need to know?

Where is the best way to find identifying information on our units?

Our OEM box has manual limits, but we now would like automatic adjustment.

Can a manual box be converted to automatic?

Does anyone have an automatic core that we could send to Redhead?

Does anyone have one of those special Pitman-Arm removal wrenches to borrow?

Who is the name of the contact at Redhead that knows about our Foretravels and our Steering box?

Our 8kw generator does not have any components in the small front bay, making access a little easier.

What has to be removed for a shop to have access to do the R&R?

Thank you,
Barry & Cindy

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #1 – July 06, 2020, 09:20:43 pm

usually a "PDP1" version

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #2 – July 06, 2020, 10:25:55 pm

Thanks Tim & Ted,

Another question for those who have come before. . .

In the attached photo , does our end of the pitman arm have a nut like others? I don't see a familiar looking nut.

Does this pitman arm nut need a special wrench to remove it?

Is a special puller needed to pull the pitman arm off the selector shaft?

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #3 – July 07, 2020, 12:31:32 am

It is a bolt and takes a 5/8" allen wrench. Someone may reply with one of David's pullers that you can borrow.
Here are some out of focus pictures to give you some idea of what is involved.

Steering box info

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #4 – July 07, 2020, 12:53:31 am

My notes from when I did it;

Quote

The main contact at Redhead for this program is Daniel Foster
Dan's phone
206 364-3333
Dan's email is:
info@redheadsteeringgears.com

Don

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – July 06, 2020, 07:06:31 pm

Our faithful 1997 has decided that it is its turn to get a newly rebuilt steering gear.

...Who is the name of the contact at Redhead that knows about our Foretravels and our Steering box?
Thank you,
Barry & Cindy

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #5 – July 07, 2020, 09:06:22 am

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – July 06, 2020, 09:20:43 pm

usually a "PDP1" version

Sorry. I haven't had my coffee yet, but.

PDP-1 version?

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #6 – July 07, 2020, 10:35:10 am

Shepard M100 steering gearbox

Gen-Pro

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #7 – July 07, 2020, 07:18:22 pm

I have one of the Pittman arm tools if someone needs it

Keith

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #8 – July 07, 2020, 07:37:45 pm

Before I replaced my steering box, I got a rebuilt unit from Sheppard. This was a mistake as almost no shop wanted to work on it because they could not make some $$$ on the part, and the price of the rebuilt box from Sheppard was high. I think the redhead rebuild is the way to go though. The box is very heavy, not easy to remove and replace.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #9 – July 07, 2020, 10:18:32 pm

Quote from: craneman – July 07, 2020, 12:31:32 am

It is a bolt and takes a 5/8" allen wrench. Someone may reply with one of David's pullers that you can borrow.
Here are some out of focus pictures to give you some idea of what is involved.

Steering box info

I have 2 more sitting behind my desk.. if needed

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #10 – July 08, 2020, 09:08:10 pm

Quote from: Jerry Whiteaker – July 07, 2020, 07:37:45 pm

Before I replaced my steering box, I got a rebuilt unit from Sheppard. This was a mistake as almost no shop wanted to work on it because they could not make some $$$ on the part, and the price of the rebuilt box from Sheppard was high. I think the redhead rebuild is the way to go though. The box is very heavy, not easy to remove and replace.

The diesel shop that repaired mine took it to the shop and picked it up( chalks in Houston 10 miles from the shop) I paid the chalks direct for the rebuild and the shop for the labor only.. Chalks rebuild was $595.00...
Hope whoever bought my old coach is enjoying the rebuild..

Keith

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #11 – July 10, 2020, 05:22:33 pm

Thanks for the help to get us focused on our steering gear swap.

Based on this info, what is the difference between these two models?

"Sheppard M100PGW1 is a direct swap out with the M100PDP1 that was special made for FT"

Is there any disadvantage to the automatic limiter model? Seems like the automatic would be preferred if available.

Are there model number designations for the manual vs automatic limit models?

Anyone have a spare that we could send to Redhead for rebuild?

Thanks,

Barry

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #12 – July 10, 2020, 05:34:12 pm

Barry,

From previous post, I believe they DO have a spare-- no idea if manual or auto. BTW, manual limit is EASY to set-- just requires a small screwdriver and is an external adjustment.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #13 – July 10, 2020, 05:39:57 pm

We will be locating a truck shop to do our steering gear swap. . .

Why is it better to 'pull' steering column when changing steering gear?

What does it take to pull it up? Are there splines that slip apart?

And what issues are there if we do not pull out steering column?

How is the steering gear detached from steering column? Is it below the universal joint?

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #14 – July 10, 2020, 06:26:22 pm

The utube video I shared with you shows how and why.
The shaft connects steering wheel to gear box. Your not pulling it out of coach. You are actually just raising it up to clear output shaft.
If not pulled up. You would have to attempt to connect gears and shaft with the gearbox being held up almost in position.
Not a repair anyone should want to try.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #15 – July 10, 2020, 07:28:42 pm

Barry,
Just an FYI........... the shop in Tillamook OR. that changed ours did not ever step foot inside the coach. They did the swap with two tech's under the coach so they must have removed the bolt from the steering column and dropped the box down off the splined shaft.

I watched from the side of the coach but couldn't see much because of the location of the box. Maybe our grandvilla is quite diffenent than your coach in the amount of access around the Sheppard box. Don't know..........

Good luck with the swap out!

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #16 – July 10, 2020, 10:30:44 pm

Mark,

Thanks for the YouTube video that shows how to remove the steering gear. Video answers my question about the steering column splines.

https://youtu.be/k1S-SA5ucMI

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #17 – July 13, 2020, 05:07:21 pm

Ordered our Red Head steering gear and learned the sector shaft stick out 2 3/4".

Our front bay metal that is spaced out from steering gear is about 2", so we may trim away another inch or as close to the air brake switch as we can cut.

Does anyone know about problems with not enough space needed for the gear sector shaft to clear the mounting plate. The YouTube video mentions the need for more space.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #18 – July 13, 2020, 07:11:38 pm

I had no problem clearing that panel. I emptied the generator radiator compartment and slid it out that door.

Steering box info

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #19 – July 13, 2020, 07:31:30 pm

I had to trim approx 1" of the sheet metal panel for the side plate with bolts to allow the sector shaft to clear the frame.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #20 – July 13, 2020, 08:15:46 pm

Had ours replaced by FOT last fall, and they also never set foot in the coach. Definitely is a two-man job...two guys with a lot of grunt. Alton said we got the last box that they had.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #21 – July 18, 2020, 12:19:08 pm

How much oil needs to be added to the hydraulic tank after the swap?

If it is a lot of oil, did you remove the tank cover to pour in?

BTW, a Forum member lent me his pitman arm remover tool, but it did not fit over our pitman arm.

Throat in the tool is 3" and the width of our pitman arm at the center line of the hex bolt is 4", so a tool mod is needed. Anyone one find this conflict?

Thanks, coach goes into shop for the heavy lifting in a few days.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #22 – July 18, 2020, 12:27:53 pm

Are you measuring the arm after the bolt is removed? The depth is supposed to be 2"
PM me if you need assistance on using the puller.

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #23 – July 18, 2020, 01:59:48 pm

Photos of pitman arm puller tool size conflict

Re: Shepard Steering Gear Leak - Barry & Cindy's turn

Reply #24 – July 18, 2020, 02:19:43 pm

That has the wrong measurements. The throat should be 3 3/4" and the slot 2 1/2"

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