steering box

[Chet Geist]

John,

I have been looking into improving my steering also. While seeing that all is tight I have been told by Blue Bird that the steering box (Ross HF654) used on my coach was referred to as a dump truck steering box and that play is normal and very little could be done to improve it. One Ross representative told me that a HFB64 box was much better and some of the people at Blue Bird indicated this was the box used on later model FCs to improve the steering. Blue Bird told me that they did change a few coaches to this new box and about 40 hours of labor a well as some modification were required. That is when I decided to live with what I had.

Chet Geist

1981 FC33, Austin, Texas

-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of bubblerboy64
Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:11 AM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Steering box

My bus is in the shop as we speak sorting our suspension and handling
issues. The fellows have told me that they have things in pretty
good order but are concerned about some "free travel" which they have
traced to the steering box. Now here is the issue. This steering box
was a rebuilt box which the previous owner replaced about 20K miles
ago. (The previous owner said this greatly improved the handling.)
The guys are telling me that my options are to live with this free
travel or get another remanufactured steering box. My concern is
that I might get another only to find its no better then the one I
have now. My fellows are also not really familiar with BB's and I
wonder if they are expection the impossible with this old FC? Any
suggestions or tricks which I might pass on to the shop. They did
say there was some type of adjustment that they were going to try to
make but it was "tricky" if they went just a little too far then the
steering would potentially have a tight spot or a hitch in it.( I may
not have that exactly right as to their discription but you likely
get the point. They said what they were going to adjust but that
didn't stick in the ole knoggin) The shop works on RV's and heavy
equipment and is very well respected. They don't see a lot of BB'ds
so if there is any thing I can pass along they are more then willing
for my information.

John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC