I am ready to start reassembly of my D4 7U steering clutch mechanism. I am cleaning and painting the levers and arms to keep the rust down. Maybe that is overkill, but I like it clean. Has anyone ever successfully installed some kind of seal on shaft 1H7500 between the large washer 6F8517 and the arm 3B0272? It seems to me that some kind of seal, maybe cork or felt, that would help keep the grease in the roller bearings 3B0570. I see a possible downside of the material getting into the bearing instead of helping. Ideas, suggestions, or speculations are welcome. Thanks all! Elton

Hello Elton,
Do you have a way to post a photo so we could see what you are referring to? Cat changes the part numbers so often and I didn't see the numbers you referred to in my parts book. Of course my theory is if a little grease is good a lot of grease is better!! :D

Jim,

Thanks for the note, I guess that is why I got bunches of looks but no answers! I may be able to get some pictures this weekend, but I am talking about the caged rollers between the two long horizonal shafts and the rocker arms that release the steering clutches. It is only a large washer and cotter pins keeping the rocker arms correctly located. There is no way to replentish the grease in the bearings, and not too good of a way to keep it in. I hope this helps until I can get pictures.

Elton

If the "rocker arms" are what I call bell cranks, then I can attest to the fact that they can be badly worn. Years ago my brother and I picked up a D4 G model and it would barely steer. Pulled the top cover and found the holes in the bell crank elongated and everything sloppy. I pulled parts from a parts tractor and replaced it all and everything worked fine after. Anything to keep that area better lubed would be a good thing. Just my 2 cents worth. Grant.

Actually mine are not too worn but everything was rusty. I emptied nearly 5 gallons of water from the right side steering clutch and maybe 2 from the left. I am bead blasting everything down to white metal but would like to keep grease where it needs to be without chancing contamination of the clutches themselves. I suppose the pits on the shafts will be "grease pockets" as my friend says.

Perhaps this is a new question, but the underside of the cover looks funky too, but I think a good pressure washing and some new oil and grease. What does the group think of that? Is there anything there that should have attention? Thanks! Elton

Hi.
the above grease is designed for rolling element (ball and roller) bearings such as large power generator shaft end bearings with good water repelling qualities may be of use in this application.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

when I was working the mechanics had something called open gear grease. It was for exposed swing gear on cranes, its black like tar and very sticky. If you got some of that in there you would probably never have to worry about it again.

Gary,

That sounds like the ticket. Where can a fella get some of that stuff?

Elton

Elton, If you talk to me real nice, I could send you a tube(like a caulking gun type). The only thing that might cause problems is in the winter that stuff is like hard tar, machines that use it have plenty of horsepower to turn all the mechanism. PM me.

"HFDZL" wrote:

Elton, If you talk to me real nice, I could send you a tube(like a caulking gun type). The only thing that might cause problems is in the winter that stuff is like hard tar, machines that use it have plenty of horsepower to turn all the mechanism. PM me.

We used to get aerosol spray on pinion grease from our Chevron dealer. Messy stuff whether in tube form(like a caulking gun) or spray on (foams up). That stuff lasts a long time.