steering

[HART]

52' CUB turns pretty hard, always has , but maybe at 87 yrs of age now [my age, not tractors] it just seems harder to steer. The steering arms and other parts all look good and I keep grease in and air in tires. What other things might be wrong?

[SundaySailor]

DHart,

If you can get someone to help you, jack up the front end of the tractor up just enough for the front tires to clear the ground on both sides. Put blocking stands under the front axle for safety.

Of course make sure the tractor is off, and preferably in gear.

Check the steering from the drivers seat as to tightness by steering from one side to the other - lock to lock as they say.

This should give you some idea of how things really are without the additional weight on the tires.

If it still feels tight, then go to the front of the tractor and start moving the tie rods on each side of the tractor and making note of movement.

Binding? Which side? Where does it appear to bind?

Once those questions are answered, then either grease or try to loosen up each section until it frees up the way you like it to be.

Mine still feels like it has power steering on it, and of course it doesn't.

[Urbish]

Is there any play in the steering wheel? Do as SundaySailor recommends. You also will want to check the play in the front steering arm with the tie rods removed. It is possible that somebody overtightened the castle nut that holds that arm onto the bottom of the steering output shaft.

[ScottyD'sdad]

Is there gear oil, in the steering box, or rusty water?
Ed

[Bigdog]

If you disconnect the steering arm from the tie rods you can tell if the binding is in the steering gear assembly or in the axle assembly. Turn each wheel independently to see if there is any binding in the steering knuckles. Sometimes a worn bushing on a steering knuckle will cause binding with the weight of the tractor on the wheels. If jacking the front of the tractor up relieves the stiffness check each knuckle assembly for binding.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Have you been greasing the vertical spindles? Many of them have the fittings missing and owners do not realize they are supposed to be greased. If you have been greasing them, jack the front up and pump grease in till you see it coming out around the bottom of each spindle. At one of the Cub Fests we worked on one that the left front spindle was very hard to turn, so we jacked it up, pumped it full of grease, and slid a piece of 2x6 between the wheel and spindle and wlaked back and forth with it several times to get the grease distributed, which made the steering much easier.

[bythepond88]

Have you checked the pressure in the front tires? If they are low, it will increase steering effort.

[SundaySailor]

To add to this, what wrench(s) are you folks using to tighten up the castle nut for the steering? I've tried a box end and a socket and ratchet with extension. Neither would make it under the tractor at the right angle to tighten the castle nut with.

I did have a little better luck with an open end wrench, but still not enough bite on the nut to make a great big difference. Still need that little extra bit so I can get the cotter pin back in.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

I use an open end wrench, and have it jacked up so I can turn the nut back and forth as needed, or if not jacked up turn the steering wheel as needed to get the wrench on. If the key will not go in without a hard turn, back it up to the next one. If you get that nut too tight it is hard to steer. I do not remember for sure, but it seems there are 2 sets of holes ( one set at 90 degrees from the other) in the threads plus the six on the shaft to give you pretty small increments.

[ScottyD'sdad]

I tap it with a hammer and brass punch. Doesn't usually need to be turned much, and it's hard to get a wrench to it.
Ed

[twotone]

My castle nut is too tight. I've loosened it, but the bearing is still too tight. I've been driving it for a year like that, and it won't loosen. Any suggestions to get it looser.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My castle nut is too tight. I've loosened it, but the bearing is still too tight. I've been driving it for a year like that, and it won't loosen. Any suggestions to get it looser.

Did you loosen the clamp bolt and rock steering back and forth while the castle nut was loose.

[twotone]

I haven't tried that John, but I will now.

[SundaySailor]

Thanks for the tips on tightening the castle nut. That does help. I was wondering if IH had made some sort of miracle wrench for getting in that tight space.

Guess it's a matter of using your head - or in my case skinned knuckles to get the job done.

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

Guess it's a matter of using your head -

I tried using my head, but found a hammer did less damage.