Remove lower mount bracket to clear/clean shift rod 'housing'

[muncedog]

Is it a 'good' idea to attempt to remove the lower mount bracket (circled in Red) to try and clear out the 'shift rod/steering housing tube' and to possibly replace the rubber part circled in blue (see second photo) as mine appears worn/loose/perished. That said I note this part (second photo) doesn't exactly have a smooth surface to begin.

All this is while the only removed part is the gear case.....

I ask all this as I am recently fixing a seized shift rod and noticed an amount of corrosion/rust flakes coming out/trapped in the rubber part, presumably flaked paint off the steering arm up top (corrodes first as its cast iron?)

I hope that all makes sense? My thought was to clear this up to avoid corrosion travlling back into the shift rod O-ring again....

 

[Joe Reeves]

Unless they've changed the design over the years, that bottom m/mt housing/bracket is a splined fit to the steering shaft and is retained there with a super large nut.... and if so.... one hellava job facing you there! (Retired in 91)

 

[muncedog]

Thanks Joe!

After a closer look at the exploded diagram, your spot on there - looks like a large thin walled nut. Thin walled + large + spline + corrosion I guess is why your suggestion this is a hellava job - agreed!

It turns out it my o rings were not stiff due to corrosion but looks like thick dried grease or oil and dirt - almost a tough wax like residue, completely jamms up on the o rings. So much so that when pushing the rod through it pulled the side of the o ring out! What is that stuff!? Took only a year to.build up!
I think these o rings are submerged in gear oil when trimmed up in the driveway !

 

[Joe Reeves]

almost a tough wax like residue, completely jams up on the o rings so that when pushing the rod through, it pulled the side of the "O" Ring out! What is that stuff!?

Sorry, no idea what that stuff could be. Quite strange that I never ran into that problem during my time in the trade (1960/91). Got to be something causing that problem by a substance that was dreamed up later on by one of the new genius's.