1923 Ross Steering box, finger repair

[61xlch 10]

Hello folks

anyone knows how to repair the flat spot at the tapered finger of my early Ross Steering Box?

Basically I would bore/cut out the old finger, and make a new one. But how to fix the new finger in the plate? Welding is not possible, because it needs to be hardened. I wonder if a thread would be strong enough?

Every help is appreciated.

Thanks

Andreas

Berlin/ Germany

[nickelroadster 101]

I would round the old finger off and then machine a tapered sleeve to fit over it. That way you would not be having issues with attachment as the original will still be there. The sleeve could be put on with a pin and then the pin finished off smooth.

[Chris Coon 17]

Is the finger pressed in?

you could remove it, turn it a 1/4 turn and reinstall it. Then you would have a new surface riding against the worm gear

good luck

[61xlch 10]

Thanks for your input.

The finger is not pressed in, its one piece.

I like the idea with the tapered sleeve, but it might be difficult to round off the old finger.

I ´ll see...

[DavidAU 42]

Possibly someone with a crankshaft grinding machine could round it up for you to fit the sleeve.

[Bhigdog 2,598]

You say the finger is hardened. If so how would you "bore" it out other than with an EDM machine?. If none of the part is hardened the job is fairly simple. Bore out the finger, press/shrink fit a new finger into place and then cross pin with a dowel or taper pin.

If the part is indeed hardened do the same thing only instead of conventional machining the job needs to be done with and EDM machine making the process slow and expensive...........Bob

[QGolden 10]

From the looks of the wear I would question how hard it is. Have you tried to drill it (drill press only). Try a carbide drill or small endmill, it may only be surface hardened if you get through the first .30 or so it may give way. If so then replace it with a pin made of D2 or A10.

Edited October 3, 2013 by QGolden (see edit history)

[Restorer32 1,657]

It's a forging so you could weld up the worn spot, chuck it in a 4 jaw lathe and turn it round.