Power steering box adjustment

I know this has been done to death but mine has started to develope a bit of free play. Had a bum sqweeking moment yesterday with 2 ton of stone in the trailer. Trying to correct the steering line caused the trailer to snake. (was going a bit fast). Anyway, while doing the usual search before ask technique, i came across a difference of opinion by 2 well respected members so im a bit unsure what to do. If i am reading it correctly, one says adjistment should be made with wheels straight ahead and the other disagrees. I wont name names but the same search will show up the two opinions.
Mine is a 4bolt ps box on a 110 defender and i would like to correct it before its gets worse. It was a recon box fitted a couple of years back and everything else is in order.
Please note i am not trying to cause a row here just to get the correct info.

go on tell us,steering box must be central which should but not necessarily be with wheels straight as the central postion is tightest spot between sector shaft and input shaft ,either side of this the sector shaft moves slightly away from input shaft giving free play increasing toward either full lock, feel free play been removed by rocking streeing linkage by hand as you adjust screw (6mm allen key)

wot he said ^^^^^^^^ steering box centralised. ideally drop link is vertical. then adjust everything from that.

jamesmartin said:

go on tell us,steering box must be central which should but not necessarily be with wheels straight as the central postion is tightest spot between sector shaft and input shaft ,either side of this the sector shaft moves slightly away from input shaft giving free play increasing toward either full lock, feel free play been removed by rocking streeing linkage by hand as you adjust screw (6mm allen key)

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No i wont name names JAMES but i may have missunderstood the steering box being central dosent nessesarily mean the wheels will be straight ahead. Thanks
BTW, front axle on stands, wheels in air, engine on or off?

no it doesnt - but it DOES mean that you will then have the same movement in each direction, otherwise yu might end up with a brill RH lock and a turning circle to the left of the Titanic.

steering box central position
adjust steering box tightness
check drop link is vertical
adjust wheels to be straight
adjust steering wheel if necessary

Thanks MHM.

WOW - I am doing this job right now too! (haha, 1 year later to the day/time)

Anyway, I know how all that works and its only a tractor so not that precise BUT I cannot undo the freaking locknut!

Got a long extension on it and with normal ratchet it wont move. Fear of the 2ft breaker bar has brought me here, so what do you reckon?

Are these usually tight as uck? dont want to break it really

G

Just make sure that you don't go to a bad MOT tester like a friend did. The tester failed the classic BMW (7 series I think it was) for "Excessive Steering Play". Doug was extremely miffed to say the least and asked for my opinion. "How was the steering tested?" I asked. "Oh on full lock" Doug replied. "That car has a steering box!" I said, adding "the check for play must only be done with the wheels straight ahead!" Doug went back and said to the tester "You will check it with the wheels straight ahead won't you?" Allegedly the tester blushed as red as a traffic light, wish I'd been there to see it. Of course they just lurv to get lots of MOT failures as if they don't they fear that VOSA will come knocking on their door