154 ,Ross worm gear end play

[Duner]

I would like to remove some end play on my worm/cam gear. I need to loosen/remove the locking ring on the end cap with grease fitting.
Is this possible to do on the tractor with 3160 deck installed. How do you get a grip of the lock ring to loosen?
Do you tighten on the grease fitting to turn the end cap take up slack?
Any pointers would be appreciated. Thanks

[Eugene]

Service manual says to bend the locking tab up to remove the lock nut.

Have never had the steering sector out of a 154 or worked on it. Have rebuilt several from Cub Cadets. I have always pulled the Cub Cadets steering sectors and worked on then on the bench.

The cam follower is almost always worn out on Cub Cadets as well as the plastic bearing retainers.

Working on, or removing the 154's steering sector, you will have to remove the mower deck.

[Duner]

Eugene, thank you for reply, unless someone has adjusted the worm end slack in place with deck on like looks like I will drive with extra free play in steering wheel. If I watch carefully I can see the steering wheel rise and fall about .060-.080 th when turning the wheel left to right.
What happens when the plastic bearing retainers fail?

[Eugene]

Slide the deck out from under the tractor. Then, perhaps there will be enough room to tighten up the steering.

If you are mowing with the tractor, winter project. I would remove the steering sector. There will be other might as well repair steering issues.

[Duner]

I raised the front end of tractor a foot or so and unhooked the 2 bolts that connect lift to deck and lowered deck to ground.
I was able to get at the lock ring and loosen it with a channel lock pliers, the end cap screwed in tighter to take up slack via the grease fitting.
In a couple of days when I mow lawn I will find out how it works.