Steering box lash adjustment etc.

Hi,
I have the box (Saginaw 800) on the table, just replaced the pitman shaft seals, put the shaft back in and now I should adjust the bearing. Seems like the steering is 3,5 turns overall, so I centered the steering by counting the turns. Tightening the hex screw, the free play seems to go away. Just to make sure I'm doing it right:
1. What is the correct steering resistance like? I have a torque wrench that starts from 2,3 NM (20 Lb in) so maybe I could even measure.
2. Any other tricks, or methods for adjusting the free play / lash?

From the 1980 Unit overhaul manual. PDF is available in the tech sub forum here.

Part 2:

Have you checked the factory procedure,first you set the preload on the main shaft from the front of the box,then you set the sector shaft preload. If you just set the sector shaft to make up for loose clearance in the main shaft it wears out the box,wears the ends egg shaped,then no longer rebuildable. Looks like @legopnuematic put the whole procedure up for you. Another one of those I should read and then post moments. I periodically use the post,then read then edit technique.

Ricko1966 said:

Have you checked the factory procedure,first you set the preload on the main shaft from the front of the box,then you set the sector shaft preload. If you just set the sector shaft to make up for loose clearance in the main shaft it wears out the box,wears the ends egg shaped,then no longer rebuildable. Looks like @legopnuematic put the whole procedure up for you. Another one of those I should read and then post moments. I periodically use the post,then read then edit technique.

Click to expand...

Odd, I just rebuilt a 4wd and 2wd box and didn't have to do any of that. Guess I got lucky!

projo198 said:

Odd, I just rebuilt a 4wd and 2wd box and didn't have to do any of that. Guess I got lucky!

Click to expand...

If you had both boxes apart and reassembled,you set both of those clearances on assembly,the endplay gets set by how tight the end collar is tightened,and the sector lash is set by the allen and jam nut,I bet you messed with that.
They may not be right,but they are set. If I was going to go through the trouble to rebuild a box I'm going to set everything correctly. I can build an engine, assemble it from just the parts in a kit and not check anything,it will probably run ,maybe a long time. But if check my bearing clearances and juggle rods and bearings,polish a journal or 2 to get my clearances in the median,and I set my deck clearance where I want it, match weight my pistons and pins, juggle heavy rods to light pistons. Which engine do you think is better? A little more effort yields a better
product. When I'm being really creative I've been known to take weight out of the pistons and get them within 1/2 a gram.