Long story short, I'm sick of the play in my steering box, cleared myself a path to the top of it to see if I could do the Allen stud adjustment and found the stud with a nut on it, but no Allen or other means of making the adjustment...

Anyone have any clue what this is about or know a way to adjust it anyways?

 

It's full of the crud that is all over the steering box. Fix the leaks. That oil leaking all over the place will destroy the bushings and engine mounts.

 

Mine was 3/16 Allan. I hear some are slotted. Be supper careful there. This is one of the touchy things that actually might be for a professional. That from a salty, Scottish "scrapper" Really, not for the non experienced. "1/8 a turn at a time, checking for binding and seeing that it tracks to true" was posted by a trusted member. (who just might show up). I over did mine, was WAY away, (maybe over 1- 1/3 turn), then got it back. I don't know how much damage I did...ended up OK, I think. I had play in the ball on the Pittman arm, as well as the box. The box will bind at straight ahead. If it is adjusted wrong, I'd guess that's where the power steering will waste/dust your internal gears.

I did zoom on your photo. Sheez. Squirt it with something, is there a slot?

 

Is that an unmolested factory box?
When those boxes wear out that adjuster ends up screwed right down flush with the locknut from folks trying to compensate. In fact that's one way to spot a crappy rebuild before you pay your money. See how many threads are left showing.
Since the Saginaw gears aren't readily available anymore for some of those boxes, I've heard of 'rebuilders' adding a longer adjuster screw fabbed out of lord knows what to try to tighten the box up.
Yours is probably packed with crud. If there's truly no hex or slot, I'd be curious what's actually in there, and why.

 

I've been watching you watch Chuck. (Radi's eyesight might not be A1). I think there might be a slot there in his photo. A great photo, but he was looking for an Allan. I don't have a subject "concrete" enough to put in the write-up section. At least one I'd bother with. (lug-nut 101?). Anyway it might be nice if someone with experience posted one up for us on that box...

 

Supper hard to see, I think there IS a slot.

 

Even with the bifocals and a widescreen it isn't all that hot up close and it keeps getting worse. I can see far away stuff like a hawk though. Might have to put the laptop across the room and get binoculars.

May well be a screwdriver slot or a hex buried under the grease, lol.
I haven't seen a factory unit yet without one. I've heard of them being cobbled by rebuilders though. Thought I'd mention it in case there really isn't a slot or hex there and he's wondering where it went.

 

It's a pretty good photo for such a tough spot. I think I see a slot. Needs a toothbrush to show I think. Btw, after some erlier hassel, I figured out I could get to mine just pulling the E fan. AND much thanks for your assistance there. After changing that "ball", on the Pittman arm, and I forget, at least a turn, (at 270K) on my Allan. I'm OK!

Neat diagram> https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/adj...ck-bar-134455/

 

Never seen anything but an allen on an XJ or MJ.

It's just too dirty to see.

 

Alright tons to answer here, I'm not sure how that picture looks to you guys but I'm running on an iPhone and it looks good to me lol, there's no crud on the top of the bolt, I already wiped it off and it's flat, no slot, no Allen, the buildup on that box is minimal for 145,000 in my conditions and I've never cleaned it, the condition of most of my stuff is fine and the majority of it is new and upgraded anyhow, minus the small wetness from the trans line directly on top of the box.

As far as I'm aware the box is factory, I've had it from 83,000 miles so if it was changed it was before I got it.

I may double check for a slot, but if its there, its ridiculously shallow.

Either way it doesn't sound normal.

 

It might be wiped off but the crud needs to be picked out of the allen socket at the end of the bolt. There is NO slot, only allens.

 

Yeah I'm an idiot.

I had a lot of crap go wrong yesterday and in my frustration didn't actually stick anything into it and as luck would have it, it was caked with hard rusty oil mud. It seriously looked like it was machined flat though.


Bottom line, I'm dumb you're right and thanks for making me second guess my first thought lol.

 

You're a good sport. You just suffered from temporary cranial rectitus. You've recovered nicely.