Continuing with the Worrall restoration and clean up, this week I focused on the tilt drive assembly. After much mining of old grease, case dirt, and oxidized aluminum, I was able to actually get my hands on the gears, drive shafts, brake assembly, and backlash adjustment sections. Special attention was paid to chiseling out the dried grease from the worm gear and sector gear to the point where I could actually see the brass and steel. Once cleaned, new grease was applied, oxidation on the backlash adjustment mechanism was removed, and the metal was stabilized and treated with anti-corrosion chemicals. I then turned my attention to the 2-speed gear box. This suffered from the same dried grease problem, but the stiffness was actually caused by the drive shaft being galled in its bearings. Once the hardened grease was removed, and the drive shaft gently worked out of the Oilite bearings, one bearing was replaced, everything was re-lubricated, and reassembly began.
