[nycub122]

Just completed a total steering upgrade on my 122.

Complete rebuild of the steering gear (new bearings, races and retainers, new adjusting plug, new cam follower and new seal and retainer). Also installed NICE bearing, thrust washer and locknut. Made sure that lever was flat (so that lever made contact with seal retainer throughout full travel of steering gear).

Installed wheel bearing at top of steering column and replaced all tie rod and drag link ends, using Heim joints in place of OEM tie rod ends and installed new wheel bearings.

Removed axle pivot pin and tightened up frame at axle connection. Installed a 3/4 x 5 grade 8 bolt and locknut in place of the pivot pin (so that adjustment could be made later, if necessarry).

Man, THIS THING STEERS LIKE A DREAM!!!

BUT, there is a problem.

Installed the 3/4 x 5 bolt with the head of bolt towards the engine. there is about 1/2' clearance between the bolt and oil pan. However, the nut interferes with the mower mule drive (didn't anticipate this). So, I can't use all 4 attachment bolts for the mule drive (this is a bolt-on mule drive for a pin-on mower, not a QA).

So, my question is: should I try to switch the bolt around (nut towards the engine), remove some material from the bolt head or remove the bolt head completly and drill a hole in the bolt to use the spirol pin used with the pivot pin?

The bolt head measues .468" thick and the locknut is .687" thick.

Any opinions?
Thanks
GEL