Update on the Super 55 steering issue

After managing to get the pittman arms off and getting the complete unit off I am ready to get this repaired. When I turned it over to drain the oil (what little there was) I found that it was more water that oil. The top barring was completely gone. The parts rested in the bottom. The bottom barring was in good shape but they will be replaced anyways. While I have the pittman arms off I am going to replace the tie rod ends front and back so I start with new. The front spindles look ok and will not need attention. I want to adjust the front wheels in so they line up with the backs. I bought the tractor with the back matching and had them moved in. I never got to doing the fronts at the time. So now is the time.

The steering unit I am going to send to Kent Gordon in TX. He sent me an email and we have talked more about the repair. He goes through the unit and replaces what is needed to replace. I would have to find and get those parts. Better half said to send it so I am. I have looked up Kent here and else where and find he gets high ratings. It's on it's way.

Hope to have this tractor back operational next week. Fingers crossed as always. I'm not to sure what to do with a tractor that steers like it should. I may be quite surprised.

You said the front spindles look O. K. Did you pull them out and check the condition of the lower thrust bearings? While you are at it check them. All the weight of the front end is on those bearings!

(quoted from post at 12:29:34 08/20/15) You said the front spindles look O. K. Did you pull them out and check the condition of the lower thrust bearings? While you are at it check them. All the weight of the front end is on those bearings!

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I put a rebuilt steering box in my 1955 Super 55. Yesterday I mowed 6 acres with a 5' brush-hog. The thing is still hard to steer. With the front lifted off the ground it is easy, so nothing is binding. Looks like I have some more checking to do, based on the comments above.

No I didn't pull them yet. I will be in the process of repairing the rest later this week. I hadn't planed to take those apart but might. Since I am this far into it, it would make sense. Is there a way to check them outside of just plain taking them apart altogether? Assuming there is both a top and bottom barring to them as well right? Don't have the books with me just now so I can't look. What part(s) am I looking for online?

You guys got me curious with those thrust bearings. I dropped the spindles out of mine today. Those bearings were lubed and free. When I turned the steering wheel with the front end jacked up and the wheels off,it had a couple of catches in it. I know full well what the trouble is. When I had the box apart a few years ago to put new bearings in it,somebody had been in there and turned the shaft down so it took a bearing that looked like a tapered wheel bearing at the top end instead of that ball bearing that's supposed to be in there. I had to put some washers in there to take the slop out of that cobbled mess.
I'll have to find a shaft out of a salvage tractor and change that out to ever make mine right.