1980 Case 444 steering wheel replacement

[NEB444]

Hello, I just joined the forum as my Facebook group isn't providing much information.

My 1980 Case 444s steering wheel cracked in half, at the moment I drilled a 1/4" hole into both halves just above the steering shaft and bolted the 2 halves together. While this is working its not the proper fix I want, only finding used wheels at $70 a pop.....but the place I got that quote from didn't have any in stock.

I've seen where folks have put boat steering wheels on with success, but was told the shaft is 5/8" and the hole in the wheel is 3/4" and it won't work.

I saw the exploded view in my manual that shows a nylon bushing that goes between the hole in the wheel and the shaft. Wouldn't that bushing make up the difference between 5/8" and 3/4", or am I not reading the exploded view correctly?

Any guidance or info would be appreciated since I can buy a new wheel for less than $20, thank you.

 

[kencombs]

I don't remember the exact year of the change, but early 444s have a shaft with a Woodruff key. Later ones had a 1/4" roll pin retaining the wheel. I think that nylon bushing you see is in the hole in the tractor body and around the shaft.

If it is

Hello, I just joined the forum as my Facebook group isn't providing much information.

My 1980 Case 444s steering wheel cracked in half, at the moment I drilled a 1/4" hole into both halves just above the steering shaft and bolted the 2 halves together. While this is working its not the proper fix I want, only finding used wheels at $70 a pop.....but the place I got that quote from didn't have any in stock.

I've seen where folks have put boat steering wheels on with success, but was told the shaft is 5/8" and the hole in the wheel is 3/4" and it won't work.

I saw the exploded view in my manual that shows a nylon bushing that goes between the hole in the wheel and the shaft. Wouldn't that bushing make up the difference between 5/8" and 3/4", or am I not reading the exploded view correctly?

Any guidance or info would be appreciated since I can buy a new wheel for less than $20, thank you.

I don't remember the exact year of the change, but early 444s have a shaft with a Woodruff key. Later ones had a 1/4" roll pin retaining the wheel. I think that nylon bushing you see is in the hole in the tractor body and around the shaft.
The keyed shaft would require a keyway cut in the new wheel in addition to a reducing bushing. But bushings are available at most hardware stores. I've used wheels from other makes with a fine splined fit by drilling them out to 5/8 and then drilling thru the wheel and shaft for a 1/4" roll pin like the later models.

 

[NEB444]

Thank you, the wheel I'm looking at has a keyway cut in it, I think for $16 and change I'm going to go ahead and buy the wheel. I feel confident I can make it work, whether by putting in my own bushing and roll pin or making a slotted bushing if mine has the keyway.

Thank you very much, under a car hood I'm pretty comfortable but this is my first tractor and I've got lots of projects planned for it .

 

[NEB444]

The wheel I'm buying