AR steering adjustment?

[GregoryU]

My '49 AR has quite a bit of steering play in it. I've got about 60 degrees of free turning before the wheel linkage starts turning the wheels. Is there any way to adjust some play out of the linkage or do you think I'm going to have go deep into it and start replacing gears?

 

[a49deere]

there should be a gear lash adjusting screw with lock nut on top of steering housing where shaft goes down through crankcase. Mine also has that slop, have always wanted to get it fixed but the adjustment doesn't seem to help! Good luck

 

[rustred]

Yes. That nut on top the steering box is your sector shaft adjustment. Takes about a 1 1/8 wrench. Loosen the nut and use a big screwdriver to tighten adjust the free play while keeping the wheel centred. You need to have some free play and steering wheel movement. Plus there would be adjustments on the tie rods much the same way to adjust for wear.

 

[GregoryU]

I assume you mean the vertical screw with the locknut under the oil breather in the picture? Does the large nut around the steering shaft adjust anything? Thanks for the replies. (OK, can't get the picture rotated right...actually the lower bolt that's horizontal.)

 

[rustred]

yes , loosen the locknut and turn the bolt in with a screwdriver while turning the steering wheel back and forth and you will feel the free play become less. make sure the front wheel are straight ahead. you could take 1/2 of your free play out. you need a slight amount of free play.

 

[a49deere]

I assume you mean the vertical screw with the locknut under the oil breather in the picture? Does the large nut around the steering shaft adjust anything? Thanks for the replies. (OK, can't get the picture rotated right...actually the lower bolt that's horizontal.)

yes, that large nut needs to be adjusted also, It adjust the two bearings on steering shaft for play, which if too much will cause slop in steering!

 

[ss55]

My '49 AR has quite a bit of steering play in it. I've got about 60 degrees of free turning before the wheel linkage starts turning the wheels. Is there any way to adjust some play out of the linkage or do you think I'm going to have go deep into it and start replacing gears?

Most steering sectors wear the most at the center position and the least at the far right and far left limits of travel. Be careful not to over adjust at the center then find it binds off center. Maybe make the adjustment off center and live with the extra free travel at the center position.

 

[rustred]

Most steering sectors wear the most at the center position and the least at the far right and far left limits of travel. Be careful not to over adjust at the center then find it binds off center. Maybe make the adjustment off center and live with the extra free travel at the center position.

no , you adjust free play in the centre of the box, adjusting the box off centre is never done. its all in the way the sector shaft is with the worm gear. that is the reason to not have it tight on centre. but its a tractor. you get the gears snug n centre then back of a bit. other wise it will be binding and not return to centre easily.