2404 very hard to steer - what more to do?

sam c

Member
Greetings,

I have a 2404 tractor with side mount balanced head mower (state highway mower). The steering is VERY STIFF. We have rebuilt both spindles.
When jacked up, no weight on tires it steers easily. Have installed an electric power steering unit (off of a Saturn). The force required to steer draws so
much electricity that it blows the breaker on the electric unit..

The only places not opened and rebuilt are the gearboxes under the radiator and at base of steering column. I thought these were ok when steered ok
with no weight.

What am I missing? Should I put a hydraulic torque generator in place of the electric? I put thrust bearings a base of spindles and those made a
difference. Should I try same thing here?

Out of ideas looking for advice
 
Not sure where you are but I have a parts 2424 with factory hydraulic power steering. My 424 steers really easy with this set up. I am in eastern Washington.
 
When you put the new bearings in the spindles. Did you change the bushings in the vertical part of the spindle? Then did you gease it enough to make grease come out the top? Did you put the thrust bearing in the correct side up so grease can get into them?
After that I would just find an axle with the power steering parts. If it doesn't have power steering already.
 
Are your spindles 90* to the ground. Some axles slip and turn slightly so that when you steer you also have the weight of the tractor front on the spindles. I had this happen with a B250 where the front axle moved inside the pipe changing the angle of the spindles. I loosened the bolts, jacked the tractor and set the spindles at 90* then tightened everything up and the tractor steered like new again.
 
FInding the issue is where the effort must be. I would remove a tierod from the spindle and see if the spindle (right then left) was causing the binding. If it is, the metal of the spindle shaft in the housing may be rubbing before the thrust bearing is even in contact. There are also needle bearing thrust systems that could be used (shimmed to provide correct vertical location) that could really reduce friction. If the gear box is the issue, it will need to be repaired or replacement gears found. Jim
 
Some of us grew up driving tractors with no power steering. If you were not strong before you will be after. It takes a lot of muscle. Otherwise a few pointers. Do not attempt to steer unless the unit is in motion. Power steering ruins good driving sense. If we had a mounted implement we would make the turn while the implement was lifting since the front end would almost come off the ground anyway. A tricycle front would spin back straight with little or no effort if you spin it just right after an end turn. Some of those things you have to learn by doing. B, C, SC, and the number series that followed were very difficult to steer with a wide front. Drive one of those and you best muscle up. Front mounted planters with 300 pounds of fertilizer in the hoppers created other problems. I would suggest that you might not have problems with your steering but you might want to grow a few muscles.
 
Exactly what lmack says. You can't turn a manual steering tractor like that setting still. I was 9yrs old and used to load manure with a 300u with front loader with no power steering. I learned to stop with the wheels pointing the direction I needed to go when I reversed forward to backwards. Nowadays I still have that 300u and it steers hard with no loader on, but I blame old wore out shoulders versus my 9yrs old enthusiastic self who felt no pain/strain!! Mark.
 

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