steering broke
 

While rototilling with my 149 the steering bound up, so to prevent ruining some rhubarb plants I put the muscle on the wheel, felt it pop, and the 149 turned and acted like it should for the rest of the time I was in the garden, I drove it to the house to hose the tiller down, and left it there until I tried to take it to the barn. I started it up pushed the lever forward to take off and ran into the back of my truck with the steering wheel spinning like a top. Looks like there's a steering column removal on the to do list.

Sounds like you had a tie rod end break or it came off.

Cam follower maybe... When they get worn they are easy to shear off. Keep us posted and good luck!

Ps, how often do you hose off your tiller? It will speed up the rust and lessen the lifespan of your bearings. I would just blow it off if it was mine.

Here's a couple of pics of the column after removal. looks like something's missing as there's a gap where alot of grease has come out. Didn't get a chance to go any farther. Had trouble getting the steering wheel off using a puller, broke alot of plastic, ended up using a 2x4 seen in last pic.

ye, I've had that tiller for over 20yrs, and use it alot during the summer in my garden and compost pile, thanks for the concern.

Took the steering box apart today and found the following
the numbers correspond to the parts breakdown from the tech library.

4 stud is broken,

6 seal and retainer, one of
them is missing

9 bearing is in pieces

10 retainer and ball assembly in pieces only
found a few balls

16 retainer in pieces

Are these parts available, and where, thanks


here's some pics from today

The bearing, race, retainer kit is IH-71930-C91, and the stud, seal, etc. are all available from CC, the sponsors, etc.

STEERING REBUILD ISSUES
 

the steering on my 149 broke, and after tearing it apart and seeing what was wrong, I got the parts together, got everything cleaned up and started to dry fit it, and things didn't look right. I've got pics at the bottom showing how the bearings went on the shaft, but I'm thinking that the shaft is worn and should be sticking through the bearings alittle bit, am I right or does the shaft sit this far inside, this pic was taken without the balls installed, just the plastic and the retainers. When I took the shaft off the tractor and removed the steering lever the stud was broken off and all the ball bearings and retainers were in pieces mixed in with the grease.

update
 

This sentence doesn't make any sense, and so I don't understand what you think the problem is. There is nothing to wear the end of the shaft that protrudes through the bearing. The shaft centers on the bearing race on the shaft, and the end of the shaft has nothing to do with this. How are you going to know if it 'looks right' when a) the balls were not in place when you took it apart and b) you don't have them in now?

Inspect the bearing surfaces on the shaft for wear, and if they're fine, put it together and adjust it as per the service manual.

I've never had one of these steering column's apart so I didn't know what to expect when mine came off. All I got when taking it apart was a handful of grease and broken parts. I'm guessing that the retainer on the bottom rides inside the adjusting plug, and when I screw in the plug it makes a sandwich out of everything, the cotter pin holds it all together.

progressing
 

here's some progress today, I put the balls into the retainers and put them and the bearing retainers on the shaft, the ball retainer wouldn't fit over the shaft, but with alittle persuasion it would go. getting the second one on went the same way, then trying to put the bearing retainer on the balls was another story, I couldn't push it over the balls.

Something does not look right...(and BTW, having two threads about the same thing is confusing).

You are supposed to have one bearing/retainer assembly and one cup on each end of the worm; in the picture, it appears you've got two cups on there or something. Your pictures are 2" wide and out of focus so I can't really tell...can you post lay out the parts on a workbench in the order you have them assembled in and post a picture of that?

Matt, you are correct in identifying what is in the pic, I was looking at the pic in the cc manual on page 2-11 an exploced view of
the steering column and it shows 2 (#9, 10,16,and another
#9 not marked) you're saying that one of the 9, #10,16's
goes on the top and bottom of the worm gear? I will try that way and see what happens. Thanks

Sorry about the double post can I delete the other one or will a mod do it for me? thanks again

maybe this will help

I understand what you are saying with the end of the shaft and it doesn't need to go out further then the bearing. It looks right from what I remember when had to do like 3 to get one because ebay sellers sometimes sell junk.....grrrrr, lol.
I finally got it right and is nice. :biggrin2:

From your picture on the left of the original post, it looks like you got two outer races on there. The balls roll directly on the shaft and there is an outer race that's followed with the adjusting plug. The end up top is about the same, one race.

If I remember right, you had to slide some parts on the shaft after you put it through the housing for some reason. I also seem to remember I had 'er greased up real good when I discovered this.

The diagram above is great. Use it.

The best thing you can do is straighten the back plate to the shaft since it pulled out of square in the factory the minute they welded it. "Pinion Arm Plate & Shaft" in diagram.

You are right Jim you have to slide the upper race and then the bearing on the steering shaft before you put it back into the tube,then the lower bearing then the bearing race and last the adjusting plug and cotter pin. Be sure when replacing the upper bearing race that the old one is not in there yet,otherwise it will not go back together correctly.

more steering pics see attach
http://www.cubcadet.com/webapp/wcs/s...A/040025400014

I was nosing around looking for something that would allow me to delete a post that I made, and found this. It shows where all the parts go on the shaft and outside of the steering column. I appreciate everyones replys to my post and maybe someday I can contribute as you all have. Thanks.

http://onlycubcadets.net/forum/showthread.php?t=7620

ab147,
Your doing great!
These guys are the experts! They have helped me a lot on the 147R. I just took apart two of these units, one that was junk on the original 147 and one from the parts tractor (127) that was in very good shape) The picture provide in this post will help you and others a lot. After a lot of inspecting and reference material. I was able to understand how these work too.
On the one I saved I did dress the cam follower adjustment screw to get a new true conical surface. Mine had the standard worn flats. Other than that it was a clean up and re assemble.
BTW My 127 has been steering hard. I checked the bolts attaching it to the frame, they were tight. I shot about 8 pumps of grease in it and it seemed much better. I don't think these steering units get greased often:)
Regards,
Chris

I went ahead and merged the two threads for you.

Thanks.

Sugarmaker, Thanks for the kind words, I dry fit everything last night and it all went together like a swiss watch, so I greased things up and started to put it back together and the bearings wouldn't fit right so I pulled everything out, that's when the bearings started dropping on the floor. I found all but one, i'll continue the search tonight. I have a 147 that has never had grease put into the steering column in the 22 years that i've owned it. I guess I could give it a little.

FINISHED
 

Finished up the rebuild and installation,and what a difference. I've heard posters say that rebuilding isn't power steering but this sure feels like it. Went out and tilled the garden, getting the mower deck ready for the leaf season, then on to the snowblower. Thanks to everyone for all the help, and kind words.

Al

Glad you got it all refreshed... nothing like good steering. :beerchug:

Al,
Glad to hear your steering rebuild was a success. Based on your comments I am looking forward to see how the 147R steers compared to the 127 which still seems to steer rather stiff, to me.
regards,
Chris

Al congrats on getting it fixed now onto the action pics!:beer2:

Oh yeah! :ThumbsUp: