| Author | Message | ||
     Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 654 Registered: 4-2015 |
1934 Phantom II - 126PY To my horror I have found that a prior owner filled the steering box with grease rather than oil. I can only speculate the reason. Leaking maybe? Question is how to remove the grease. I do not see any way to drain the box which seems counter-intuitive. Do I just not see the drain plug? If it is possible to drain, will I be causing more problems by trying to use solvents to get the grease out? If there is no provision for draining, my only option seems to be to remove the cover (there is one) and try as best I can with appropriate tools to scoop out as much of the grease as possible, fill with oil, and hope for the best. Any ideas or suggestions? . | ||
| Peter Toet Experienced User Username: peterpackard Post Number: 28 Registered: 1-2015 |
Very common to fill with grease as leaks developed and seals were not replaced. Very effective in most cases. I would not be concerned with the amended routine. I would suggest that you use a Teflon grease for a top up. The ideal is of course to restore the steering box. Peter Toet | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 655 Registered: 4-2015 |
Peter... Thanks. So it is not the end of the world as I had so hastily concluded?? So...what is the best way to top up with more grease, or is it even necessary to have the box full to the same degree that it would be with oil? How do you arrange for the grease to get to the bottom of the box and completely envelop the gears rather than just fill the top with a void below? Is it perhaps added with a special cap in place of the hex plug that has a grease fitting and breather hole and once installed, the plug replaced? What about heating the grease until it becomes a fluid and then pouring it in where it will cool and regain its grease like viscosity? . | ||
| Mark Aldridge Grand Master Username: mark_aldridge Post Number: 486 Registered: 10-2008 |
Christian, why not use a semi fluid grease https://www.classic-oils.net/Penrite-Semi-Fluid-Steering-Box-Lube or https://www.classic-oils.net/Morris-K4000EP-Semi-Fluid-Grease. Also handy for injecting into sealed balljoints etc Mark | ||
| richard george yeaman Grand Master Username: richyrich Post Number: 896 Registered: 4-2012 |
I like Marks take on this. Richard. | ||
| christopher carnley Unregistered guest Posted From: 109.145.118.67 |
Christian, It may be due to leaks, and apart from removing the control rods and the bottom nut, it can,t be drained. You can remove most of the grease with a cheap oil sucking syringe, but I would top up with EP 140 gear oil and leave it. (Message approved by david_gore) | ||
| Patrick Lockyer. Grand Master Username: pat_lockyer Post Number: 1684 Registered: 9-2004 |
Yes Mark is on the "case" with the semi fluid grease. This is a case of things have moved on since the car was manufactured IMO using EP 140 is dead duck, will still find a place to leak from when engine heat kicks in. Land rover do swivel ball grease is a semi liquid moly grease that flows, albeit slowly. It comes in premeasured 375ml tubes, been using it for years. | ||
| Trevor Pickering Experienced User Username: commander1 Post Number: 29 Registered: 6-2012 |
I agree with Mark. I used Penrite steering box grease on my P11 (PY112) and was very happy with the result Smooth steering and no more leaks. Trevor Pickering | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 656 Registered: 4-2015 |
Thanks to each for your input and ideas, all of which have merit. Under more perfect circumstances and had the grease already not been put into the box but the box was known to leak standard oil, I do believe that I would have gone with the semifluid product. However since there is already grease of unknown quantity installed, I will remove the box's cover to get a better view of what's inside and then probably scoop out some of the grease as is possible and top up with 140 weight that will fill any voids below the grease and hopefully over time mix with the grease to mimic the semifluid product...plan subject to modification once I get a better view of what's inside. . | ||
| Jonas TRACHSEL Prolific User Username: jonas_trachsel Post Number: 151 Registered: 2-2005 |
Christian Try first what happens by mixing EP140 with the grease in the box. A spoon full of what you scoop out and the same amount of gear oil in an old tin can, heated moderately to a temperature expected in the engine compartment and then stir lightly (the worm and nut in the box will not stir it vigorously) and see if you get something looking like fluid grease or whether the grease will just swim in lumps in the gear oil. | ||
| Christian S. Hansen Grand Master Username: enquiring_mind Post Number: 660 Registered: 4-2015 |
I'll try that and see what happens. Thanks. . | ||
| christopher carnley Unregistered guest Posted From: 109.145.118.73 |
 (Message approved by david_gore) |
