IH 806 steering spindle & arm question

I'm rebuilding the steering on my OLD IH 806, wide front. It was incredibly worn and sloppy and the steering arms had been welded to the spindles by some thoughtful individual.

I had to cut the steering arms off the spindles with a torch, thus destroying both.

I obtained a front end from a 706 which had good spindles and arms. The spindles will fit my 806 tubes, but the 706 steering arms will not. See my annotated picture. They both fit on the 1.66" dia spindles, but the outer ID is 2.2" on the 706 and 2.4 on the 806.

MY QUESTION IS THIS:
Is there such a thing as a steering arm designed for a keyed spindle but with the 2.4" opening? I know there were a few variations on the 806 front end over the years.

If not, I'll have to get matching splined spindles and arms and sell what I have.

Suggestions?? THANKS!!

By the way, some folks think that this is not the original front end - see this discussion:
http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=farmall&th=998990

I had a 64 806 and it had used a key and a crossbolt on the spindles. It was better than the fine
splined things used on the later tractors.

The crossbolt seems like a better approach.
One thing I have considered is machining these 706 steering arms so they will fit. I could cut down the lip so that they would go far enough down on the spindle. Then, I'd have to fashion something to serve as a cap to prevent dirt from getting in there.

Or I could just buy the right thing...

Those are two totally different parts. They are not interchangeable. the long one is an older 'model. Probably from a 560. So,you will need to buy the correct part,or modify what you have.

What are the parts numbers on those two steering arms that you picture? Should be numbers on the other side of them as shown in your picture. All parts on 706 and 806 are the same numbers in parts look-up on Case/IH site.

There may be a chance that one or the other of those tractors had an aftermarket front axle put on it to replace a tricycle front, in that case things would not interchange.

How much of the 706 front end did you get, center tube, both axle extensions ( the "knee" as some call them ) , both knuckles ( you call them spindles ) and both steering arms ? If you got a complete front axle with all parts , just swap it all out and be done with it.

We bought a 1969 F-756 in 1974 . The steer arms had been welded to the knuckles which were spline type with the big nut threaded on it. . We ordered new parts for both sides and when they came they were the keyed and bolted style. They have stayed tight for 43 years and 12,000 hours of use. 1969 F-856 with 6500 hours has key and bolt type and they will not stay tight. Had the shaft and steer arm key-ways enlarged but still not staying tight . Go figure ????? Have new ones on hand to change them out soon.

Link to post on Y-TMag with a picture of a F-806 with a Schwartz or Speeco front axle, fourth post down.
806 picture

Through some parts places you can get a tapered splined spindle and arm. You will have to have the matching set, or they will not fit together. Those fine splines will not last long and they will slip.

Thanks for the reply and the info. I've not been able to find any part numbers cast into these steering arms.
Yes, I did get the complete 706 front end. But it will not fit- I did have that idea! The main aspect that keeps it from working is the big "yoke" that is attached to the axle has the ball on the rear. The 706 yoke is much shorter, and the mounting spacing is narrower, so I can't just swap yokes.

The incompatibility I have at this point is that my 706 steering arms will not seat on the tubes of the 806. My current plan is to machine off the offending ridge on the bottom of the steering arms so that they will go down far enough to insert the locking cross bolt. Then, I'll have to fashion a guard of some sort. The 706 arms are longer, as you can see, but I don't see this as a problem (or should I?)

I could buy new knuckles (aka spindles) and steering arms, but I have no guarantee that these will fit down over my tubes any better than what I have, and nobody is willing to take measurements. I can save $500 using what I have, anyway.

Okay , here is what I believe is going on.
You must have International ( Standard or "Wheatland" model )806 instead of a Farmall ( row crop) 806. There is a difference in the front axles of the two. Pictures above shows Farmalls on the left and International on the right . Notice the front axles especially the clamps. Farmall has bolt holding axle extension in center tube going through it vertically , clamps are horizontal.. International has bolt horizontally , clamps are vertical . Picture from your post of a couple years ago ( 3rd picture) shows hole for bolt going horizontal through axle just like the International axle in parts look-up, so it has got to be the International 806. The stabilizer yokes to the center tube of the axle are wider spaced and longer on the International than the Farmalls. That is why you can't just swap out the entire assembly.
The reason the diameters that you show are different in the steering arm pictures is that the larger one needs to fit over a larger diameter pipe. The pipe that is the vertical portion of the axle extension knee on International models is larger diameter than Farmall vertical pipe. Steer arms are shorter on International models . Entire front axle assembly of the International models are beefier than Farmall models. I do not think it would be advisable to try to modify those longer steering arms as you describe.
Go to the Case IH parts website linked below to see the F 706 axle parts as compared to the Int 806 axle parts.
I do not know if there any aftermarket sources for steering arms and knuckles that fit the International model tractors as there were not as many of them built as were the Farmall models.
Hope that this has helped you. Reply here or to my e-mail if you need to ask questions. Good luck.



706

806

I did some searching and there are aftermarket replacement axle steering knuckles and steering arms for the International models. However, all of them that I saw were the spline type. You just need to know the correct IH numbers for the parts when you get ready to order from aftermarket suppliers.