For years I have been complaining about my 300U manual steering being hard to turn while others say theirs is not that bad. After really going through the system I found it was my fault, not the tractor.
1. No. 9 in the IT manual are the two side lash adjusting screws - one on either side of the steering box. There is a lock nut on each slotted screw.
There should be a small amount of side movement of the gears to prevent binding -about 1/8 inch.
Years ago when I tightened the lock nut I must have let the screw turn also which caused binding on the gears. After readjusting the screws and lock nuts my 300U now steers easily.
2. Even though I was using the correct settings on the pitman arms, I had been using the wrong center position on my steering wheel. I was about 1/3 turn off. On my tractor center is with the correct steering wheel spoke up and centered and I had been using down and centered. I don’t know if that is factory setting or not.
Even though I still have a little more play in the right side than the left, my 300U now steers easily and tracks true.
I hope this helps someone.
Dell
1. No. 9 in the IT manual are the two side lash adjusting screws - one on either side of the steering box. There is a lock nut on each slotted screw.
There should be a small amount of side movement of the gears to prevent binding -about 1/8 inch.
Years ago when I tightened the lock nut I must have let the screw turn also which caused binding on the gears. After readjusting the screws and lock nuts my 300U now steers easily.
2. Even though I was using the correct settings on the pitman arms, I had been using the wrong center position on my steering wheel. I was about 1/3 turn off. On my tractor center is with the correct steering wheel spoke up and centered and I had been using down and centered. I don’t know if that is factory setting or not.
Even though I still have a little more play in the right side than the left, my 300U now steers easily and tracks true.
I hope this helps someone.
Dell
