B steering to tight

[bill finn]

The steering is groaning or binding in some spots. Here is what we have done so far. Disassembled and Inspected all parts, found some rolling of the tooth edge on the worm gear. We have done some grinding on the top gear teeth. The eccentric bushing is smooth now (it was binding on the shaft) We have 2 shims under eccentric bushing, parts book calls for three. I see some pitting on one of the worm shaft bearing race. The Lower thrust bearing is good and indexed correctly in place. Kind of wondering what we should do next. Would it do any good to file on the worm gear? Should we be looking for a new top gear? What was the name of the guy who taught the steering at Gathering of the green this year? I think he was making top gears
Thanks for any response

 

[ET]

If you remove the worm shaft from the steering box and take the weight off the front end do the front wheels swing back and forth smothly? Did you ajust the worm gear bearings with the sector gear removed to have no endplay but no drag either?

 

[finn1wil]

yes with front end up wheels turn smooth as silk,Put a load on and its tight here and there. I think we may have created to many variations in tooth fit when we ground the top gear. But why would it change so much loaded versus unloaded? Could there be a problem with the thrust bearing area? Maybe some thing is turning under load that should be stationary?

 

[Kurt_JDB]

Bill,

The best thing you could have done is to follow all the procedures and adjustments in the B service manual SM2004. It is a really excellent manual, and the section on steering is superb. Did you do that? I have never heard of anyone fixing any issue with the steering by grinding and filing the worm and sector gears.

There are various reasons for binding, and the most common one is having the eccentric bushing adjusted tight when the wheels are in the straight ahead position where the worm and sector are worn the most. Things will then bind when the wheel is turned to the side.

If the vertical shaft is not bent, all bushings are good, vertical movement of shaft is in spec, worm endplay adjusted correctly and worm and sector are adjusted correctly, nothing should bind. The steering might be loose in the straight ahead position because the worm and sector are worn. New or better parts are your best option at that point.

Kurt

 

[jdhbag]

Rich Duane taught the steering at the GOG. (410) 643-2899. Yes he has those parts.

 

[bill finn]

I agree with what your saying. I did notice that when I install the eccentric bushing I must pull the shaft to center to get the bushing to drop in, maybe I will try to turn the wheels with worm out and load on and see if it still binds. I suppose there could be a bend in the upright shaft.
thanks for the response

 

[Kurt_JDB]

Bill,

The most important thing I suggested was to beg, borrow or buy a copy of the B service manual and read the section on how to set up the steering. Really.

The cost of the service manual is probably less than half the cost of the sector gear.

Kurt
B service manual at Davenport tractor.

 

[F-I-T]

I think you have a dry/gouged thrust washer and thrust plate at the bottom end. Best explanation for "turns hard with weight on it, but real smooth with weight off"...

 

[Kurt_JDB]

FIT,

I think he may also have a problem with the mesh of the worm and sector changing/being out of alignment as he raises and lowers the front due to excess vertical play of the vertical shaft.

Kurt