I am re-building a 1940's Gemmer worm and roller steering box. The sector shaft, which is about 5 inches long and 1.25" in diameter, is mounted on two roller bearing about one inch long. They are on the outer edges of the shaft and have a distance tube between them.
The worm gear interfaces with sector gear on one end of the shaft. The pitman arm is on the other end. The shaft tends to wear near the worm gear end. No doubt do to the loads of the gears.
By the late 1960's Gemmer (now Ross/TRW) changed the design to add a ball bearing to the outside of the shaft on the "other" side of the worm gear. No doubt to distribute the load.
My question is: In the older design...instead of using two needle bearings and a distance tube, would I be better off using a single long bushing to help the load?
I looked over this thread and it adds some to my thinking, but this is not an area of expertise for me. Thanks, James
The worm gear interfaces with sector gear on one end of the shaft. The pitman arm is on the other end. The shaft tends to wear near the worm gear end. No doubt do to the loads of the gears.
By the late 1960's Gemmer (now Ross/TRW) changed the design to add a ball bearing to the outside of the shaft on the "other" side of the worm gear. No doubt to distribute the load.
My question is: In the older design...instead of using two needle bearings and a distance tube, would I be better off using a single long bushing to help the load?
I looked over this thread and it adds some to my thinking, but this is not an area of expertise for me. Thanks, James
