Original Steering Column Rebuild
 

About the only thing that I don't like about my new little Original is the slop in the steering. I'm planning on replacing all of the steering joints and, I'm fixin' to do some fixin' of the steering column as well.

I've checked out several of the threads here and looked at a few "kits" on the interWeb. I've not been able to determine if the "Ross" style steering is the same as the one that's in my Original. Is it the same as a 70 and up?

Any good kits out there that you recommend over another?

thanks for any info!

AFAIK....The steering columns for the Cub Cadets all used the Ross Steering type up through the 82 Series and perhaps beyond. The only difference is the length of the column. The internal parts of the gear box should all be the same.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...teering1-1.jpg

That is good to know R Bedell, as my "O" will need some work in that area and was wondering the same, thanks.

Great info!

Thanks R Bedell. Looking at doing this in the future, once I get all the stuff together to make it happen.

Well, I just couidn't stand it any more. I know, it was only a couple of days with it but still. All that slop in the steering was simply beggin me to tear into it. i had swapped out two of the tie rods (that helped some) but the steering box STILL had a lot of excess play.

I decided that I was going to get into it. So, after pulling the battery, tower and steering wheel, the column fell out the bottom. :biggrin2:

i was surprised how easily everything came apart. Not many bolts between driving and rebuilding the steering column. When I got the column up on the bench, it was obvious that this thing suffered from the same illness as the rest of the tractor-- LOSEitis. EVERYTHING on this tractor is lose! The bolt that goes through the side plate was finger tight! Both the jam nuts were tight, they just weren't holding anything. Then, to make up for that, someone tightened the cam follower pin so it would still make good contact. The amount of play in the box was scary. But, it did prevent any excessive wear. I didn't totally disassemble the box but it still had nice grease inside. i filled it up a little more and just cleaned up some areas.

After adjusting it so that it was tight, but still rotated with my fingers, I cleaned it up and put it back in. I did use a nylock nut instead of the jam nuts. And, as a point of reference, I was surprised to find out that these little boxes also get tighter around the middle of the box's travel- cars do the same thing. I just make a note of that so that if anyone is adjusting their box, make sure that it is in the middle of its travel so that it doesn' wear excessively as it passes through the middle of its travel. It'll be nice and tight, until it gets nice and loose! that kinda wear you're not getting back! :bash2:

Thanks for the info on this site.

Good to hear you got it tightened up! I just had the box on my Original apart for a complete cleaning, fresh grease and adjustment today. I was surprised to find that it's quite different from the later models,the side plate bolt is smaller, the hole in the side of the box is smaller/ different shape, and something I liked is it has clips that hold the races and bearings in place in the shaft.