broken steering column?

[dieseldan123]

Took my steering column off and well, im not sure if this is a common problem with the 123 cubs, or if neglect and abuse was the result. But im pretty sure they aren't supposed to be slit in two. sorry for the dark picture, i took it at night, and im currently scraping the old grease off. ill post a better picture once its all clean

[TEET]

Its really hard to see your pic, but did the tube seperate from the casting? If so it could be from abuse, or from sitting outside for a long period of time. Ive seen some where the tube is full of water, and the po never greased it......ever...and they rust from the inside out. If you can get a better pic we might be able to help a bit more, its really hard to tell whats going on there.

Jeff (teet)

[dieseldan123]

ok this the column with some of the grease and junk cleaned off. the black tube is completely seperated from the yellow housing. the grease is a nice dark grey color, to me indicating water build up and age, im not sure if the column was ever greased or not. the po was my grandfather, a fellow IH mechanic from 1963 to 1974. hopefully the pics are better this time, let me know if you need to see more.

[Matt G.]

The tube often comes out of the steering box. That is an easy fix.

[TEET]

Matt is correct...they are just pressed in. I would clean it up real good, repair or replace anything else on the column that is in question, and slide it back together. The presence of the steering wheel and related bushings will help keep the tube mated to the lower housing after you reassemble it.

Ive seen a lot worse than that :biggrin2.gif:

Jeff (teet)

[dieseldan123]

Thanks! i plan to have it all the way cleaned and painted soon. goin to completely over haul the steering box once the pay check comes in. im glad its an easy fix. would you guys recogmend it if i was to use JB Weld to keep the two pieces together or should it be ok when i bolt everything back in?

[TEET]

Originally Posted by dieseldan123

Thanks! i plan to have it all the way cleaned and painted soon. goin to completely over haul the steering box once the pay check comes in. im glad its an easy fix. would you guys recogmend it if i was to use JB Weld to keep the two pieces together or should it be ok when i bolt everything back in?

No problem...I asked the same question the first time I had one like that. I don't think I would use any adhesives or jb weld to hold it in there. I think if you gently tap it in with a block of wood, and button it all up, you'll be good to go.

Have fun!

Jeff (teet)

[dieseldan123]

thanks jeff! ill keep that in mind! now off to the garage and make this cub like new! :biggrin2.gif:

[5 Cub Cadets]

Three solutions I've seen are: tap it back into place and use either 2 or 3 pop-rivets, or sheet metal screws, to hold it, or get an exhaust pipe/muffler expanding tool (cheap one like from HF) expand the tube and tap it back into position.

Good luck
Dick

[Matt G.]

If it came out once it will probably come out again. Either expand the tube (careful...easy to overdo) or rivet it in. Locktite should also work as well. I have riveted and locktite'd a couple of tubes with no problems.