Hard steering VACs

Farmallb · Jun 9, 2016

I have a 34 CC, a 48 and 49 VAC Case tractors. The 48 is as hard to steer as the CC, which isn't all that hard, but the 49 is near impossible. The 48 still has the arm coming out underneath the grill and above the steering post, while the 49 has rod linkage clear through to the front post.
Ive sprayed the steering post sections below and beside the engine doing no good. I havnt yet greased them. Theres a collar near the steering wheel that a gas lever is clamped on. The collar is not supposed to spin, but it does, being froze to the steering wheel shaft. I released the grip on the lever so the collar could turn with the shaft so that I could turn the shaft while spraying it to try to loosen it up, but that didn't do anything. Ive got the front end jacked up, and I can barely turn it. I wonder if the steering post the front wheels attach to had got bent from dropping in a ditch or something like that.

Bret4207 · Jun 9, 2016

Why haven't you tried greasing it yet? You probably have bearings full of old, hard, dry grease. Grease it, soak the rusted parts in multiple applications of ATF or some other lube and make sure the front tires are aired up. A VAC is a pretty easy steering rig.

VACLee · Jun 9, 2016

Until you get the shaft free in the dash support it will not turn easy. That tube is pressed into the cast mount and is not suppose to turn. Also that style steering was not used until mid 1951. They can be a challenge to get free if it has set out for an extended time. Most of the time I have ended up taking the side panel off to be able to get better access to the tube to prevent damage. It has a bronze bushing in it but rust builds up on the shaft and causes it to bind. Once you get the tube off you can clean the rust off and it should work fine. Lee

connor9988 · Jun 9, 2016

If it is the newer VAC rack and pinion steering I have found that the shaft protruding up from the dash is the culprit for my hard steering. It does have a grease fitting but that is towards the bottom of the shaft, inside the dash, next to the battery. When I pump grease into that fitting it more than likely takes the path of least resistance and shoots out the lower end. Had I been thinking I would have added a fitting towards the middle/top of the shaft to help keep the steering shaft turning easy. My remedy right now it to lightly apply WD40 or equivalent to the top of the shaft where it ends and the actual steering shaft comes out. Gravity and slowly turning the steering wheel back and forth helps to let the oil trickle down the steering shaft and free it up some.

Hard to describe but I hope this helps. I can take pictures if needed.

01gentdc · Jun 9, 2016

wondered the same,.. pull out grease fitting and sqeeze some atf in there ..you can also load the grease gun wth atf , ,pour atf in a half loaded gun , and I will put that atf rite where it is needed..

Hard steering VACs

Farmallb

Well-known Member

Bret4207

Well-known Member

VACLee

Member

connor9988

Well-known Member

01gentdc

Well-known Member

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