350B Steering Clutch Shaft Play

[Kaiverol]

My slow work on putting my left side steering clutch back together has me now asking what typically gets done with worn out bushings and or shafts. My steering clutch shaft (the horizontal one) has quite a bit of wiggle so I can see replacing the bushing without issue. I just wonder what the odds are that the shaft is worn as well. Haven’t priced these, but expect the worst. I also have read about removing and cleaning the vertical shaft by driving it out the bottom. While it looks like heck, it is not “too” stiff ( some penetrant on it so far) and it is not sloppy. I am deathly afraid of starting this procedure since I don’t know how stuck the fork is etc. and totally breaking something. Therefore, against likely advice I feel I could leave it be and have it continue to work ok.

Can’t say I’ve replaced any bronze bushings, but suspect would need to press it as opposed to hitting it at all?

[LeonardL]

Not sure how you would press one of those bushings in place without first pulling the clutch housing off. I suppose you could try a ball joint press or some configuration like that. I have always used a standard old bushing driver that fits the bushing and then just drive them in. It's not an easy task and you will need to be careful about getting your bushing off center. But it can be done.

Your vertical shaft can be lubricated using a mix of anti-seize with a little bit of thin oil. Usually those shafts will work up and down enough so that you can work the mixture into the space between the bushings and the shaft. I usually clean them as best I can and blow them out with compressed air before I try working the anti-seize into place.

[Kaiverol]

Thanks Leonard.

I got my horizontal shaft out and bushing on order. Will need to get a bushing driver to ensure it goes in straight.
The horizontal shaft is now moving up and down 3/8” so it it getting looser and cleaner. I popped the lower plug out and a lot of crud was in the bottom. This will clean up a lot better now. Will do the anti-seize/oil mix.