Hit Stump w/ front left wheel - How do I adjust Steering?

W

WestDeerPirate

Active member
I have the I& T Service Manual but it does not cover adjusting the steering alignment. It does cover how to remove and reinstall the steering column. Nothing about what I am asking.

I hit a stump that was hidden in the high grass at the back of my property and now the steering wheel turns fine if I crank the wheel to the let but it does not turn more than half way if I try to steer the tractor to the left. I am hoping that the drag link rod can compensate this issue.

How do you adjust the steering, or do I have a much larger problem?

Please do not send me links to the parts manuals, I need a mechanical soluton described to me in detail. THank you.
 
Wish I could help. The only thing I can offer is the I&T Service Manual as I do not have a Numbered Series Cub Service Manual available yet. Sorry. But there are some real pros with the numbered series on the forum, I do think you will get an answer ..... it may just take a bit before they see this post..
 
Hit the stump with the other wheel. Maybe it will straighten it out. Just had to say that. I do not know how to fix your problem. Everyone needs some humor during a bad situation. Have a great day.
 
And here I thought I was waking up to a solution...........

I checked under the tractor and nothing appears bent. The steering mechanim from Section J of the manual was my reference. Looks like the steering knuckles, tie rod, tie rod ends, tie rod ball joint, and the steering Lever support assembly are all fine, viewed from beneath and from the front.

I am interested to know more about the steering arm and the drag link. Does anyone know what these do and if these may affected?

Lastly, I am thinking about jacking up the front of the tractor, removing the 5/8-18 hex nut from the steering shaft, turning the left wheel as far as it will go, centering the steering wheel and tightening it back down once the wheels are straight.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Seems to have worked for a Craftsman Lawn Tractor guy on Google.
 
If I am not mistaken, most Craftsmen Lawn Tractors use a sector gear similar to this:

2859.jpg


175146 Sears Steering Sector Gear Assembly, replaces 532175146

The 154 uses a different type of steering system..

Page%2003.jpg

Cub-154 Steering Mechanism

I don't see where it could have jumped a gear. With the craftsman I can see the thought process -- when the sector gear is shocked it can jump a tooth... -- no don't ask :roll: :arrow: :oops: :(
 
I do not have a # lowboy.

However, looking at the page Rudi posted, it appears to me the best way to adjust the alignment is with part #6.

If it was a very hard jolt, Part 10 looks like the week link. do not know if it is splined or not, but it is connecter to part #6 the link bar.

With a pipe wrench I would try turning it a little to see if this helps your situation. If so, adjust it to where you need it.

If it "jumped a tooth" like in your craftsman example, there are only 2 places it could be. In part #10 or gearbox assembly #3. Either way, I think adjusting #6 would be my first choice.

I AM ONLY GOING BY THE DRAWINGS, I HAVE NEVER BEEN UNDER ONE, BUT THAT IS MY BEST GUESS. I TRIED. :big afro: :big afro:
 
Your description is pretty unclear, and I have never worked on a 154 so this is all a guess. I doubt taking the steering wheel off will gain you anything. If the drag link is bent, that could be the problem. If it isn't I doubt there is enough adjustment on it to fix the problem. I suspect the steering arm (ref # 10) has turned on the output shaft of the gear box. I don't know how this is held in position, key, spline, flat on shaft or ?. You may need to set the wheels straight ahead, remove the arm, center the steering gear and reinstall it. If there is a key, it may have sheared. If the parts are splined, you may need to give Hamiltonbob a call.
 
Well, here is the best that I can describe what happened. I was in the process of turning left, with the wheel turned as far as it naturally turns. I hit a stump with that tire causing the rear of the tractor to swing o the right slightly. I put the tractor in reverse and back up. When I went to turn the wheel to the left to pass by the stump I noticed that the lefthand fron wheel would now only turn about half way. The righhand front wheel however turns all the way.

When I looked under the tractor I did not see anything that had bent. When I try to force the steering wheel to the left, there is a lto more play in the wheel than would be normally. Yetm the lefthand wheel still only turns about half way.

Part#10 may be able to adjust the problem, but I do not know anything about this part. Like you said, how it is attached, how it is removed, how it is adjusted, what function this part servers, etc.

My thought was that i could remove or lossen the steering wheel by taking off the hex nut below the steering wheel cap. I was then going to jack up the fron of the tractor and hand turn the lefthand front wheel to see if i could force it to turn all the way. If I can get ti to turn all the way I was going to realign the steering wheel to be centered left - to - right and then retighten the 5/58-18 nut on the steering column. Like I said, I do not know if this is even possible I was just throwing it out as a possible fix.
 
I thought from your earlier post that the two front wheels were pointing the same direction. Since they are not, I take back all my earlier comments except that removing the steering wheel won't do you any good. That is still a given.

If the wheels are not turning together, you have trouble related to items 5 or 8 in the above diagram or items 3, 5 or 7 in the diagram below.
Page%2002.jpg
 
I don't have a clue on the # series either but by reading the posts, including your last one, I agree with a few others, don't know what removing the steering wheel will gain. If nothing is bent it sure seems like the arm (part #10) rotated on the shaft. Re-read Jim's reply, I think he is dead on (not that there is any surprise there 8)

(oh, I see Jim responded again before I got this posted..)

Good luck,
 
Sorry....the wheels both turn with each other. However, turning right allows full movement, turning left only allows half movement.

Anyone know more about part#10, how to adjust, how to remove, etc.?
 
If I am understanding part number #10, which is toothed, there should be a nut or something holding in place along with a washer. I have no idea just guessing. Once I have this arm disconnected I should be able to turn the wheel may be a 1/4 turn and then reattach the steering arm.

Is that pretty close to what everyone else was thinking?

I also have a call into Bob Naylor.
 
WestDeerPirate":1g5p9lj0 said:
If I am understanding part number #10, which is toothed, there should be a nut or something holding in place along with a washer. I have no idea just guessing. Once I have this arm disconnected I should be able to turn the wheel may be a 1/4 turn and then reattach the steering arm.

Is that pretty close to what everyone else was thinking?

I also have a call into Bob Naylor.
Click to expand...

By looking at the vague diagram it appears the arm is held on with a nut, the part (shaft) it goes on appears to be smooth and tapered and threaded at the end and by tightening the nut it compresses the arm (10) onto the shaft. IF that is the case the “bump” may have just turned the arm on the shaft, leaving it in a wrong orientation to the rest of the steering. Again all speculation on my part, but I think this is what others are also saying and you are asking confirmation on.
Good luck,
 
Thanks for working this out with me Dave. I will go home tonight and get under the tractor to see what I can see. I will post back my findings.
 
If you have full left and right movement of the right wheel but less than full movement of the left wheel then I would look towards the area that affects only one side. That is the second diagram. Everything in the first diagram is both wheels. #10 is splined on my 154 and would be unlikely to move. You can slip a tooth in the steering gear box but it would have to be very much out of adjustment, the screw with locknut on the side of the steering box is the adjustment. Eitherway, those problems should affect both sides. I would look at the steering knuckle, 3, to see if it is bent or the weld has broken, also the ball joints in the tie rod ends,7, may have been damages such that they allow too much movement.

Not much can affect only one side and not the other.
 
Thanks man. Hmm....I have full movement in the right tire but only have the normal turning radius in the left tire. So maybe I should focus on the parts that only effect one side and not both. Gives me a lot to think about.
 
"I have full movement in the right tire but only have the normal turning radius in the left tire"

I am not understanding your description. Normal turning radius is full movement! Does the right tire turn all the way left and right? Does the left tire turn all the way left and right? You can point one tire, the right tire, straight ahead and see where the other tire points. When you turn to the left, the left tire should turn more, angle more, than the right and when turning right the right tire should angle more.
Are both wheels straight when centered? If not then look at the tie rods and ends. Turn the steering wheel and observe the wheels. Does the left move at the same time as the right or is there a lag in movement. If there is a lag then look at the steering knuckle weld.

Hitting a stumps favors breaking of bending something on that side, steering knuckle, tie rod or tie rod end, but not something further back in the steering mechanism. The leverage of the steering mechanism protects stuff closer to the steering column at the expense of stuff closer to the wheel.
 
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