Cub steering problem

[Rambus]

Good morning
1949 Cub having front wheel shake problem in 3rd gear not sure if it's tie rods or in the steering box, it just started to do this .best place to start looking

[Don McCombs]

First thing I would check would be front wheel bearings. They may need replaced. Jack the front end, just slightly off the ground. Check for looseness in the hubs. It could also be wear in the tie rod fittings, on either end or both. Then, it could also be wear in the steering sector or worm gears and their associated bearings and bushings. Finally, it could be a combination of all the above. Check the wheel bearings first. There’s a good discussion on wheel bearings toward the end of this thread.

viewtopic.php?t=109189

[Eugene]

Tractor not moving, turn the steering wheel while watching the arms at the spindles. Arm and spindle should move at same time.

Jack up one side of front end. Check wheel bearing. Moving the wheel back and forth will disclose problem areas.

[wrz]

I would also check the toe in. This would make the front wheels shimmy as your speed increases.
Wm

[Glen]

Hi,
The setscrews in the steering arms at the left and right of the front axle can wear on the ends, then the arms become loose on the spindles. This is a common problem with Cubs with that style of steering arms.
Then there is more play in the steering, and the front wheels can move left and right as you are driving the Cub.
The setscrews need checking occasionally, and tightening if loose.
You could have someone turn the steering wheel back and forth slightly, while you look at the steering arms, and the shaft that the arm is on, they should both turn together, with no play there.
If the arm turns and the shaft doesn't, the arm is loose.

The setscrews have a tapered end, that fits in a tapered hole in the spindle shaft.

Sometimes the tapered end breaks off the setscrew, and is in the tapered hole, then the arm needs a new setscrew, and the broken off tapered end removed from the hole.

IH quit using the setscrews in the arms in the early 1950's.

Below is a pic from TM Tractor.

[SamsFarm]

Tapered roller bearings might be loose on the spindle and the spindle nut just need tightened.

I think you will find the procedure in the owners manual!

Please try that before tossing your bearings in the trash!

Good luck and keep us posted

[inairam]

What were you doing in 3rd gear? Running from the law?

[Magnum]

What were you doing in 3rd gear? Running from the law?

I think he was at the salt flats .

[Rambus]

Thanks everyone for the info, I will dig into it this spring.
And I was trying to set the land speed record at the Salt Flats

[dgrapes59]

Did you take the record?

Land speed racer AB Jenkins in 1935 at Bonneville, setting a record on an Allis-Chalmers for the fastest tractor. He hit 67.7 mph. It stood for 80+ years.

Best of luck with your steering issues,

[Magnum]

Do you think that tractor had calcium in the tires ? That speed is insane on a tractor.

[dgrapes59]

Do you think that tractor had calcium in the tires ? That speed is insane on a tractor.

Don't think they were filled, but it's an interesting read as to the role this played in the early evolution of the rubber farm tire.
https://www-deseret-com.cdn.ampproject. ... -for-speed

(Sorry about taking this post off course)

[Gary Dotson]

That was real interesting, David. I don't think that's for me.