M38A1 steering sector shaft fix

Jar · Post by **Jar** » Wed Jun 03, 2015 3:58 pm

Trying to buy a new sector shaft for for my new old M38A1. None of the parts companies seem to have them. read a thread on the Ross steering box renovation and he said that he couldn't find one so he took it to a machine shop and they pressed the cones out and turned them around and pressed them back in. They only wear in 1 spot. has anyone heard about this fix before?
Grateful for any imput.

Bobber · Post by **Bobber** » Thu Jun 04, 2015 8:57 pm

Sounds good, I wished I'd thought of it before I replaced mine.
Cheers

STXM38A1 · Post by **STXM38A1** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 9:47 am

That is an acceptable method. I believe the "cones" are installed like rivets, so the peened part on the back will need to be removed in order to press them out. Rotation should be 90 degrees.
Be sure the shaft itself is in good shape, or can be cleaned-up so its OD is still a good fit for bushings (replaceable) in housing. You may want the shop to install and ream new bushings to insure a good fit.
If you go forward with repair, the total cost of the machine shop work would be interesting info. Please let us know.

DaveM38A1 · Post by **DaveM38A1** » Fri Jun 05, 2015 5:14 pm

I had a machinist friend to fix mine. He made new dogs, and like you said peened them in. He made them to the original specs with the hardness needed.
I had a rebuild kit with bushings and he knurled them and installed them for me. He said the fit wasn't good so he increased the outer diameter by knurling the bushings and pressed them in. I rebuilt the steering box and it seems to work well now. Making the parts, sizing the bushings, and making some longer head bolts for the engine lift hook, all for $100.00.
Money well spent.

Dave

Jar · Post by **Jar** » Mon Jun 08, 2015 3:32 pm

Thanks to all for the help on the sector shaft.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Fri Nov 17, 2017 7:23 pm

Well the machine shop I took mine to informed me they weren't able
to press the pins out.

I'll have a face to face when I go pick it up and see if they removed
any material peened on the back side.

I'm hoping they did not, though it would seem academic....

rgmutchler · Post by **rgmutchler** » Sat Nov 18, 2017 6:16 pm

I bought an NOS sector shaft from Brant Mullins for my M38 last year. Don't know if he has the M38A1 sector shaft.

STXM38A1 · Post by **STXM38A1** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 11:19 am

The good NOS shafts for the M38A1 are hen's teeth.
Too bad one of the suppliers can't find 3 or 4 big wooden chests full of them when buying out parts/junk yard. Maybe there would be some well preserved NOS A1 gas tanks right next to them. It would be nearly the Holy Grail of discoveries.

4x4M38 · Post by **4x4M38** » Sun Nov 19, 2017 1:27 pm

There is a rumor of a source for new manufacture A1
sector shafts in the near future.