Super MTA Steering worm shaft

[oldfarmall]

Hello-

I have a Farmall Super M-TA, narrow front with two wheels. The steering is very loose an wobbles alot, especially when in road gear. Was going to look at replacing the steering worm shaft and sector gear. Been doing some research and it seems the later Super M-TA tractors above serial number 52627 may have used a different steering worm gear shaft? My M-TA falls in the serial number region above 52627. So does my M-TA need a different steering worm shaft then? All I can find online are the Super M steering shafts under serial number 52627.

Can anyone confirm what shaft I need? Thanks

-Jesse

 

[Janicholson]

Before buying a new shaft, remove the old one. The issue may be the ball bearing that positions the worm. The bearing is just under the big plug at the front of the steering gear box. Assessment is easy and accurate. With these tools, and the sheet metal off the front, and the front wheels straight ahead, use a groove joint pliers to turn the shaft all the way to the right. within the steering slop, (not turning the tires away from straight)now clean the shaft at the point it enters the box using brake clean or solvent that dries quickly. Using a good tipped permanent marker, mark the put a mark on the shaft where it enters the box all the way around is good, and tight to the box. Now turn the shaft with the pliers through the slop toward the left (not turning the wheels). look at the mark you made. if it is sticking out away from the box, the bearing is worn badly. The bearing must be replaced with the same edge number (prefix, number and Suffix numbers/letters are important. This is a deep groove heavy duty ball bearing and substitutes are going to fail quickly.
Another issue for consideration is the gear the worm turns. some of these are 360 degree full tooth gears some are 180 degree 1/2 gear. the 360 gears can be turned 180 so a new set of teeth contact the worm. Jim

 

[D Slater]

Hello-

I have a Farmall Super M-TA, narrow front with two wheels. The steering is very loose an wobbles alot, especially when in road gear. Was going to look at replacing the steering worm shaft and sector gear. Been doing some research and it seems the later Super M-TA tractors above serial number 52627 may have used a different steering worm gear shaft? My M-TA falls in the serial number region above 52627. So does my M-TA need a different steering worm shaft then? All I can find online are the Super M steering shafts under serial number 52627.

Can anyone confirm what shaft I need? Thanks

-Jesse

Yes steering worm shaft is longer. Gas start diesels and 400 and 450 one piece shaft tractors work but don't know if anyone has them new.

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Replacing the worm gear and/or shaft is usually a waste of time and money. Most of the slop is usually from the gear being lose on the bolster shaft, and worn bushings in the bolster. If the gear is loose on the shaft, a carefully crafted beer can shim wrapped around the splines on the shaft will tighten it up.

Another trick to tighten up the worm/gear fit is to offset the front bearing. Carefully grind about .020" off one side of the bearing's outer race, and shim the bearing to push it toward the sector gear.

 

[Brownie450]

Our SMTA & 450D steering were loose, & upon checking
things out, both had the sector gear loose on the bolster
shaft plus wear on the gear. We turned the gear 180 &
tightened the nut down. Took 95% of the wear out.
Jim

 

[glennster]

just a thought, if the replacement steering shafts that are available are too short, steiners sells a slip fit coupling for the char lynn power steering. you could add a length from the old shaft with the coupler to get the length you need. part number abc497. for 19.99

 

[oldfarmall]

I took the steering work shaft out today. Before I removed anything, steering wheel had about 1/4 turn either way before it started to turn the wheels.

Took cap of end of steering gear, and the castle nut that held bearing in place was completely threaded off the shaft. No sign of a cotter pin. The steering gear was a 360 degree gear, not half moon. It was loose as well. I took it out and rotated 180 degrees. Retightened castle nut for the gear and put cotter pin back in.

This took almost all the slop out. I still need to rework the shaft where the u joint connects. It is worn at that spot, which is making some play yet. But it is much better! Thanks for the comments.

I did measure my steering worm shaft. It is 48" long. I think the Super M shaft is 46.5" long. Thanks for the help!

-Jesse

 

[Janicholson]

I took the steering work shaft out today. Before I removed anything, steering wheel had about 1/4 turn either way before it started to turn the wheels.

Took cap of end of steering gear, and the castle nut that held bearing in place was completely threaded off the shaft. No sign of a cotter pin. The steering gear was a 360 degree gear, not half moon. It was loose as well. I took it out and rotated 180 degrees. Retightened castle nut for the gear and put cotter pin back in.

This took almost all the slop out. I still need to rework the shaft where the u joint connects. It is worn at that spot, which is making some play yet. But it is much better! Thanks for the comments.

I did measure my steering worm shaft. It is 48" long. I think the Super M shaft is 46.5" long. Thanks for the help!

-Jesse

Thanks for the follow-up. Always a good factor knowing what helped. May your Christmas be Joyful. Jim