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Hard steering Cockshutt

L

LA in WI

Member
I recently bought a real nice Cockshutt 30. Always stored inside. Non-adjustable wide front.
It steers very hard. I jacked up the front end. I greased every zirk on the front end, I took grill off, then the steering box cover, I squeezed fresh grease into the worm gear, I removed the zirks on the spindles and squirted in some fresh grease and then some penetrant.

I spun the steering wheel back and forth about 30 times....seemed to get easier to turn. I lowered tractor, drove it and it still steers so hard it takes both hands to turn that tractor.

Anyone have an idea what to do? Maybe Cockshutts are just hard steering tractors??? Should I take the spindles apart (really don't want to do that)?
LA in WI
 
Bearings? Wheel bearings? Both wheels spin easy and quiet when I had it jacked up. No
problem with wheel bearings.
LA in WI
 
Had a 50 and it was a bear to steer. Ended up fabricating a power steering from car steering parts. Worked pretty good after that. It also had the fixed front on it.
 
Hi LA,

The E3/30 tractors will steer with very little effort after you find and correct the problem(s).

Your steering gear may not be set up correctly. There are three steering adjustments to properly set up the steering gear. This is very important to set correctly due to 60 years of wear and abuse. I can supply the instructions, if needed.

Grease the steering shaft liberally, where the shaft goes thru the dash casting.

You may have BAD thurst bearings at the bottom of your king pins. One at the bottom of each spindle.

Are your two steering U-joints worn and binding??

Are your tie rod ends lubed and moving freely?

We have all the parts on stock here that you may need.

Phil heisey
215-256-8651
 
Phil, I think I've got the problem narrowed to the thrust bearings at the bottom of the king pins. Steering u-joints turn freely.

I am a tinkerer, not a mechanic, so how difficult is it to replace those thrust bearings? At 78 it's hard to crawl around and look at the bottom of the spindle but I can give it a try.
LA in WI
 
Hi LA,

I understand the work that is involved.

One of the challenges is that you have to get the front of the tractor up in the air to be able to drop the king pins out of the axle.

I am 10 years behind you in age and I don't like to be on the ground working upside down either.

For me, it would be easier and safer to jack up the front end and remove the wheels and hubs, unhook the steering arms, and remove the front axle from the tractor at the center pivot pin.

No matter which way you do it, be sure to have a capable helper to assist you.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651
 
Hi LA.

I slept on my earlier reply and have changed my mind.

I would not remove the axle. I believe that you can jack up the front end and remove the wheels and hubs and then jack it a little higher, if needed, and drop the spindle/king pins and easily replace the lower thrust bearings. We have the bearings and felt dust seals on stock here.

Also check the king pin bushings.

Phil Heisey
215-256-8651
 
I also bought a 30 in April and it took 2 hands to steer it. I greased every nipple I could find in the front end. Like Phil said I greased the fitting on the steering shaft in front of the dash. Lots of grease there did the trick.
 
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