Hello All
I went to change the steering wheel on my 944 and after noticing the serious rust on the inside of the steering shaft I decided to pull the box apart to check it over especially after reading the stories about these boxes filling up with water due to the hollow steering shaft. I found about a half a gallon of water in mine but everything appears to be in good order.I have a Service Manual for the machine but it does not have the later style steering gear. The steering gear info in the book was issued in 1962 but my machine was built in 1963. Does anyone have a copy of the Service Manual pages that show the adjustments for the 4K6406 steering gear?

Regards

Phil

Hi PhilC,
to my mind the only adjustment I recall for most Cat steering boxes is for the sector adjustment and from memory would be the same as for any steering box.
Find the centre of the worm (high spot) by turning the wheel fully and carefully near the ends of travel to save damaging the sector bearing peg, in each direction and counting the turns and go back half the number of turns and adjust the sector as described in the manual.
The steering cylinder down underneath would remain the same unless it has excessive free play in the ball sockets that can be adjusted out within the limits of any excessive flat spotting on the ball studs--maybe can cheat a bit by turning said ball studs half a turn and adjusting to that for straight ahead steering.
If this does not cover what you need please ask again.
Hope this helps.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hi Team,
not sure if you have a parts break down of the 4K6406 box just found this 944 43A 3012-up Parts Book with said later box in it.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hello Eddie
Thanks for the reply. I was looking for the settings for the 4D7841 screw on the end of the lever shaft that sets the clearances for the bearing peg, the 3K3475 that sets the clearance for the tapered roller bearing on the peg and the 2H3776 nut on the end of the worm shaft assembly that sets the clearances for the thrust roller bearing on the worm shaft. I did not really look at the service manual as it was for the earlier style box but I guess the same settings apply for the later box. The book basically says the clearances should be set so that there is slight pre-load with no binding.

Another issue I have is the top of the shaft at the steering wheel is that rusted that the thread for the nut is rusted away and fell apart when I undid the nut. I am thinking of machining the head of a bolt so it fits in the bore and silver soldering it into the bore.

Regards

Phil

Hi PhilC,
after reading your description the adjustment you state is as I now remember.
Do not adjust the peg too tight as it can gall the running surface of the peg taper and/or the worm, same for the peg bearings, back in the day they were mega $$'s and are likely hard to get now.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Hello Eddie
Thank you for the reply. Do you remember how you got the arm off the spline on the end of the levershaft? The only way I can see is to put a puller on it and the only way to do that is to remove the side panels, fuel tank and mudguard. Up to now I have removed everything in situ but I want to replace the seal on the lever shaft and reassembly would be easier if the box was removed.

Regards

Phil

Hi Phil,
from memory there should be two protrusions on the arm/lever boss that are suitable to put a 2 leg or other suitable puller on--tension it up and give the lever boss a good whack whilst supporting under the boss to save putting the impact thru the case etc.--may need a touch of oxy heat as well if that does not work.
Cheers,
Eddie B.

Thank you Eddie.
This jobs getting bigger each time I look at it:) Already spend a few hours removing brake pedals and the oil filter.