Steering shaft worm reassembly

johndeereguy2100 · Jul 16, 2017

Putting my 43 B back together and now I feel dumb for not paying attention to the worm gear/tires/steering wheel.... when reinstalling the worm gear and shaft, what do I need to do to make sure my steering wheel lines up and I get full turn from side to side on my wheels? IIRC I can't just screw the worm in and call it done, it needs to be positioned correctly with the wheels. I have the tricycle front end if that is important for this.

Sorry for the ignorant questions, new to antique tractors and don't really have any "mentors" around, pretty much teaching myself as I go and learning from the trusty interwebs.

Thanks

James Howell · Jul 16, 2017

"<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]what do I need to do to make sure my steering wheel lines up and I get full turn from side to side on my wheels?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

This is one way to align the tires before reinstalling the shaft and worm.

Raise the front tires off the ground.

Turn the steering wheel as far left or right as far as it will turn.

Wrap a piece of masking tape around the top of the steering wheel.

Turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction as far as it will go.

Using the masking tape as a marker on top of the steering wheel, count the number of complete revolutions/turns made by the steering wheel.

Divide the number of complete revolutions/turns made by the steering wheel by 2.

Then turn the steering wheel in the opposite direction by that number of complete revolutions/turns until the masking tape marker is on top.

Lower the front tires to the ground.

Reinstall the shaft and worm.

Hope this helps.

PJH · Jul 16, 2017

My 50 is 10 years newer than your B, so it may be different. It has stops built onto the sector gear in the top of the pedestal, and those stops have to be aligned with the centerline of the tractor with the wheels pointing straight forward. The stops control the amount of rotation of the steering wheel, so the gear has to be "timed" to the front wheels correctly. The sector gear can be rotated 180 degrees to give you a new set of teeth and tighter steering. The worm gear on the 50 doesn't really control the lock to lock rotation of the steering wheel. It just turns the sector until it hits the stops.

It's been many years since I've had a B steering apart, and it is probably entirely different than the 50.

Your question is not an ignorant question.

greenmech · Jul 16, 2017

I would have your wheels straight ahead and screw your worm gear and shaft in. Don't forget the inner bearing. Ron Mn

PJH · Jul 16, 2017

Again - assuming your B is similar to my 50 - the worm shaft end play is controlled by adding or subtracting shims (thin gaskets) under the end bearing cap. It's trial and error to find the right balance. The mesh between the worm and sector teeth is controlled by adding or subtracting shims (gaskets) between the worm housing and the pedestal.

Back to installing the worm - think about it - the worm gear does not determine the lock to lock of the steering wheel. If it did, there could only be a little less than one turn lock to lock. Therefore, the stop has to be controlled by the sector gear or some other device on the vertical pedestal shaft.

PJH · Jul 16, 2017

I'm getting old and can't seem to think of more than one thing at a time. Sorry.

There is another adjustment in the pedestal. The vertical end play of the pedestal shaft is controlled by adding or subtracting shims under the sector gear. Again, this is how my 50 is built, but I would think your B would have similar provision for adjustment.

johndeereguy2100 · Jul 16, 2017

Awesome thanks so much! I just got the steering put back together... now to fix up my steering wheel.

Still so many things left to do before or county fair starts next weekend and I'm out of town this week; eek!

Steering shaft worm reassembly

johndeereguy2100

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James Howell

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PJH

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greenmech

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PJH

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PJH

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johndeereguy2100

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