So I was out picking up some parts from local guy, and he was gracious enough to give me a saginaw steering box...from zamboni. (Zamboni's are used to polish the ice between periods during hockey games, btw) Thing is I'm pretty sure this thing is like six turns lock to lock. Can I change the ratio in the box, or am i better off continuing my search. I'm planning on running a cowl steering setup and this box looks like what comes out of the chev mail trucks which i heard some guys have used. Thanks! -Pete
NO, you can't change the ratio. You can use a longer pitman arm (if you're going to a cowl steering set-up) to effectively speed it up. Check the action first: with the pitman arm hanging down, you want to move forward when you turn the wheel to the left. You may have to reverse but Saginaws are pretty easy to do.
OK it's 6 turns from lock to lock.....but how far does the pitman arm shaft turn? I would bet a little over a 1/4 turn. Try to turn it as close to a 1/4 turn as possible. Then times that by 4. Schroeder boxes come in 12 and 16 to 1 ratios. Yours is close to 20 to 1 ratio and makes it easier than the schroeder. Clark
Haha! Even us So. Cal. natives know about Zamboni's since they started making them right here in Paramount CA. just North of where I live here in LB! Listen to the guy who said experiment with the length of the pitman arm to adjust your useable ratio. Make it twice as long as the arm on the spindle and all of a sudden you've only got 3 turns right to left to use before locking the wheels instead of six.
Yes, because you can always use it, sell it, or trade it and were still better off than having nothing.
Ahhh....the Zamboni. That's always my line in a bar; "I'm a Zamboni driver. Do you know how a Zamboni works?" First, you have your horizontal screw. Next, you have your vertical crew. Then, you have the application of warm fluids. Finally, you finish with the towel off.
Only someone from Minnesota would even drum up a question concerning a zamboni......"ah don cha know" hahahah!!!
Yup! I have a customer that services Zamboni's (Yes, even in Holland we have icehocky ), he always orders GM P/U parts off the shelf. Never sold him a steering gear though, so I'm not 100% sure that's the same. What's with the young soccer fan in your avatar BTW? I thought Americans hated soccer...? LOL
There were several brand new late model Chevy 4x4 pickups at Carlisle several years ago with the drive train removed. Untouched, new but missing the drive line on trailers. I had to ask what's the deal? The guy said that they built ice surfacing machines (I'm not certain that they were the Zamboni brand if there is more than one brand) and they could buy economy model 4x4 pickups (no AC,PB,PW radio etc.) and sell the bodies to recoup some of the cost cheaper than buying the individual parts. It was a good deal for someone with a roll over. It was an odd sight. I always think about that when the Zamboni comes out between periods.
and i must add that yes... it was free and that makes it a good deal. the guy gave me something he knew he wouldnt use. i'd rather make this work than order a new one if i can.
I drove a Zamboni back in the early 80s. We had 2. One was a very early serial number and am pretty sure it was on a Jeep Ch***is and it had buckets on a chain drive. One was powered by a VW engine. The Rink i worked at was built in the 20's and was home to the Hartford Whalers when the Hartford CC roof collapsed. Mr Hockey Eddie Shore spent a lot of time on our Ice. There is an art to making good ice
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