Steering housing bolts

[cavingreer]

Anyone know the size/length of the steering housing bolts that hold the front end onto the tractor? 5/8" head bolts, think there are 5. I can't seem to nail it down in the parts manual. I have 1 in mine, obviously a newer bolt not original, looks like 1.5" long and it won't tighten so either it's too short or my threads in the housing are stripped

[Cubfriend]

The parts book TC-37F has them listed as part #179860, Qty.5, 7/16-14NC x 1 1/4"

[cavingreer]

Well that means I've got stripped threads then. Yay

[cavingreer]

OK I figured out this morning how to read the parts manual better. I was looking for the bolts in the diagram not in the parts list under the part they bolt in place. So not only were all the bolts except one missing but the one that was in place was just hanging in. All the threads must be stripped up to the 1-1/4" point. I was able to get ahold of threads with a 2" bolt but it's too long of course. I'm going to try a 1-1/2" to see if it might hold. If not I guess I'll have to helicoil, tap and use bigger bolts, or replace the upper housing. I also suspect the dowel pin is missing or broken because it twists a bit.

[cavingreer]

Should the bottom housing be tight to the top housing or should it have a little play? I picked up some 1-1/2" bolts and got into good threads but I'm having to grind them down a bit to snug them up. I have 3 in now but it's still got a little play in the front end

[Dale Finch]

Are you talking about the two halves of the steering gear housing: #21 and 11
http://www.cleancomputes.com/Cub/Cub%20Parts%20Manuals/TC-37F%20Revision%202%20(09-70)//Chassis/Page-156.jpg

Note that there is supposed to be a gasket between the two castings. There is also a dowel pin, and if yours is missing, you can get one from most hardware stores...don't remember the size.

If you have the lower housing off, and you confirm the holes are stripped, it really is rather easy to get a Helicoil kit the right size (often available on eBay), which should allow you to drill, tap and insert the correct Helicoil and use the proper sized bolts.

[cavingreer]

Yes that is the 2 parts. I don't have them separated or ordered new gaskets yet I was just trying to see if I could get bolts to hold and get the tractor usable for a bit before I tore the whole front end apart. Just wondering if they should be tight or have a little play

[Bob McCarty]

They should be tight.

Bob

[cavingreer]

Thanks Bob. I'm going to pick up the rest of the bolts and finish grinding them down until they tighten up properly. The one existing 1-1/4" bolt actually caught hold in the back right hole up underneath the drain/fill/level plugs. I'm betting they left that one out because it's a royal pain to get to. Looks like once I get the other bolts ground down to the right point which is around 1-3/8" they will hold and I'll be able to use it for awhile until I get ready to tear it all down and install new seals. Pretty big job from the looks of it.

[BIGHOSS]

If it is the two halves that I am thinking of, yes they need to be tight. This is what holds the gear 90wt oil. Not only should be tight, but have two good clean mating surfaces, good gasket and rtv, if you don't want it to leak oil. Each one that I have rebuilt is prone to leaking a little. I am now using "cornhead" grease to prevent seepage.

[Scrivet]

........ All the threads must be stripped up to the 1-1/4" point. .........

....... Looks like once I get the other bolts ground down to the right point which is around 1-3/8" they will hold and I'll be able to use it for awhile until I get ready to tear it all down and install new seals. Pretty big job from the looks of it.

Please rethink this. You've got ONE 1-1/4" long 7/16" diameter bolt and ONE EIGHTH of an inch of threads on four others holding your front end together. (The bolts are 14 threads per inch, 1/8 of that is 1-3/4 threads). I'm definitely not the safety police but I wouldn't even walk anywhere near the front of that one. Helicoil it NOW! You could have them done in the time you are grinding down the bolts. Worry about the oil leaks and teardown later.

....... I was just trying to see if I could get bolts to hold and get the tractor usable for a bit before I tore the whole front end apart. ......

I think you run a huge risk of tearing the whole front end apart sooner, and not in the manner, that you intended. This is not the place for a temporary repair in my opinion.

[cavingreer]

Good advice but I am completely guessing on the amount of thread that's good/bad. 2 of the holes were in perfect shape, the other 3 I ground maybe 1/8-1/4" off each bolt and tightened the heck out of them and got some serious torque on them to make darn sure they would hold. I should have been able to strip them out if they were going to give out and would have called it quits then and prepared to rip it down and done helicoils or replaced the housing. I'm going to do major tear downs later but I'm pretty confident the housing is once again solid and will survive until I can better prepare for it. The only thing I'm missing right now is the dowel pin and I'll look that up and locate it tomorrow.

[cavingreer]

So the Steering Base Dowel is 25086DA - http://www.tmtractor.com/new/st/389fp.htm - From what I can tell a lot of whatever oil/grease is in there has been coming out that hole. So that's just a solid 1/2" hardened pin that should drive tight into the hole and stay?