Pitman Shaft Threads?
I just replaced the steering box and had everything ready to go when I realized that I did not inspect the threads on the pitman shaft. It appears that someone smacked it with a ball pean or something and partially crushed the first 1-2 threads. Well they are just compressed a bit. I tried to force to nut...second mistake. Now I have two questions. Is there a way to repair the treads on the pitman shaft? I am not a machinist; however, I can imagine that there would be such a tool. It locks on the interior "good" threads in maybe three pieces with a circular clamp and then the "die" is the unscrewed off the shaft to repair the first few threads. If this is not made, then I would love to patent it. In the interim, can someone tell me how to repair the threads without taking the box off my truck? I want to drive it so bad right now with the new suspension.
The second question is...Is the nut easily found? What size and where?
Thanks,
Steve
I guess there is a third question...Does someone have a link to detailed instructions on rebuilding my old box so I have a back up for the next 60 years?
There is a folding die available but they are kind of pricey.
Tomorrow I will get you the thread size.
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die, cut the die in half with the air whizzer place the two halfs on the
good thread section then put the die holder on the die and back off the
thread. I have many dies cut in half just for this operation. Just make
sure the TPI (thread per inch) is correct Ford boxes usually fine (NF).
I do a lot of threading on the lathe and run into this all the time. sam












