Did you check the stud ball in the steer cylinder. This steer cylinders has to be calibrated.
If the adjuster is in all the way then most likely the bearings supporting the shaft up to the steering wheel are loose. They are tapered roller bearings and maybe you can take up some of the looseness by turning the big screw adjuster on the bottom of the box but most likely they are failing and need replacement. It shouldn't be too much of a problem to pull the steer gear assembly out and apart.
they were I replaced them
One other thing to check would be the steer link ball studs,link goes from the steer box to the spider assembly...are the ball studs loose and worn out???
Its an 1/8 of the turn of the steering wheel. But you are correct it is kind of an **** thing. I completely rebuilt the steering system (other than the steering box) and it's tight as a bone. So the slop is just a bugga-boo of mine, but is definitely a cost thing. If its two or three hundred bucks then you are right whats an 1/8 of a turn among friends.
Thanks for your help.
I'm not sure if those steer box assemblies can be rebuilt or not,with as old of a truck as it is might not be able to get the parts to rebuild or replace,only way to find out is to call a clark dealer,give them your FULL model AND serial number for the truck and see what availability AND pricing would be... Is 1/8 of an inch of free play really that critical for the age of it???
Kevin,
Thanks for the doc. I already had it. The problem is I have turned the lash (I called it the thrust initially) in as far as it will go and still have about an 1/8 free play.
Duane...do you have an email to put in your profile?