Looking for Power Steering Gears for Straightline Steering

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Straightline Steering in San Jose, CA is looking for some old steering boxes.  He is looking for power steering gears out of low-floor Gillig transit buses.

Gillig part #82-11873-000  mfg. part #TAS85032 

If you know of any, contact Mark Mason at Straightline Steering at 408-289-9850. 

Please Note:  Mark does not follow our forum, so please contact him directly if you can help him out.

Also, if you need any Steering Boxes, Straightline Steering can help.

[Paso One]

Thanks Gary I gave Mark a call 3 years ago I bought a transit companies parts inventory and in with the stuff was Gillig stuff and I thought I'd never find someone interested in any of it.
I got brand new brake drums for a gillig that i use for stands in the shop LOL

[windtrader]

What's the tradeoff, doing a rebuild from these folks or getting one from Luke? I guessing core charges apply in both cases. Better to rebuld your own or swap?I really need to swap the steering box in my  bus

[luvrbus]

LOL I remember this was covered 3 or 4 years ago,I thought you already did the upgrade Don ?,you want to upgrade and not rebuild that unit even rebuilt they are sloppy,my MCI 8 would give you upper body workout keeping it between the while line and ditch

[windtrader]

Wow! You got a good memory. Busted on that one for sure. Here's the full story.
The reason I've not replaced it is because it works fine. Bus drives great, does not wander around, or drift. There is a slight bias to the right and a slight pressure or nudge keeps it going straight.

When parked, there is play in the wheel. No griding or roughness. There is a slight clunking feel and sound at the ends of the free play. Nothing worrisome.
I had Don Zimmeran's place do a full safety inspection and make me a list of stuff that can get replaced, nothing major, just PM and normal wearing stuff over time.
He did NOT take it on the road and this is the thing that does concern me so looking for you guys input.
Once in awhile, not that often but when I make a hard turn like parking lot, never while driving on the road, the sterring box will catch, and I have to apply some extra pressure to push it through it to where to is all free again.
I have dreams the gear will just snap when I am driving and the steeting will lock up in a turn and off the road I go. I'm hoping that is all in my mind and the way the steering gear is actaully constructed that can never happen but I don't know.

So that fear is what keeps me wanting to swap it but not convinced yet it is a safety issue and more just another quirk of owning old bus.

[chessie4905]

Does it duplicate the issue on blocks with wheels unloaded?

[windtrader]

It was up on the lift and I can not recollect how much they checked from up top. They were moving around from place to place checking different stuff and changing that leaking hose.
I can do that test myself rather safely so will advise what it does when unloaded.