Adding Grease Grooves in Steering Shaft

[ri702bill 11,007]

I decided to add shallow grooves on the steering shaft to retain grease under the welded-on gear. The coiled pin in the steering wheel did not want to budge, so I had to leave the upper end assembled. I had to do some creative fixturing but added five equally spaced shallow (.030 deep) grooves inline with the root of every other tooth of the gear using a ball endmill. 

 

[Wayne0 1,442]

The only problem I see is the grease has a way to go out, not stay in. I think a radial groove would be better. Maybe with a couple short cuts in the shaft that don't go to the end. My 

[ri702bill 11,007]

The grease goes out the bottom anyway - there is a blow-out from the OE machining process. I figure the packed shallow grooves help to smear the grease.