4400 center arm shaft bolt question

marlin54

Member
trying to rebuild the center arm in my steering up in the front bolster as it was all tied up...when I took it apart I had a hard time getting the bolt out part # 17 its a 5/8 " bolt and I see that the threads were stripped out. but the threads in the arm are fine..its the bolt that clamps the arm to the shaft and the shaft has a notch in the side for the bolt to hold the shaft in the right position..so I line the bolt up and I see the bolt that was in might have been replaced at one time because when I line it up it appears that the part of the shaft that has the notch lines up on the bolt and the threads of the bolt would be where the notch is...I would think the shaft on the bolt should be solid not threads...in the picture you can see what I am referencing to. Is the original bolt have a longer solid shaft ..seems like it should..Im thinking someone put a bolt in there other than the right one...?...If I used another bolt that has threads rubbing against the shaft it would tear the shaft up...maybe in wrong ..not sure..

cvphoto23966.jpg
 
hers the pic..not sure what I did wrong that it didn't load on my original post..hope fully it loads this time
 
That style of bolt will work just fine in there. It would appear that the bolt you took out was damaged simply because it came loose.

It doesn't really matter how many threads are on the bolt you put back in, because once you install it and tighten it to spec, nothing will move around.
 
I hated that 4400 steering.
Too darned many parts and linkages under the radiator.
I fixed a 4400 up, didn't like the steering on it so sold it.
I like that size tractor though so I built another one only this time I went with a 3500/3550 style steering.
The front axles are the same but they use a better steering system.
Note the steering arm in the photo.

cvphoto23995.jpg
 
I respectfully disagree with you Jerry. IMHO, that "under the radiator" steering system was one of the best Ford ever put out. Properly adjusted, it's the only PS system that will make a Ford tractor steer like a Deere. Yes, it is a pain to work on and adjust, but it has the potential to work very well.
 
We discussed this a couple of years ago Bern.
It depends on what you want from the steering. I completely went through that 4400 system. Adjusted everything, bored the holes in the little connector plates to a larger size and installed new os pins, etc, etc.
It did steer easily afterwards. Two fingers with the engine at idle.
But with so many linkages in that system it still wallowed along like a water buffalo. Fine for a loader tractor but for a mowing tractor the steering was just too imprecise.
On the second one I built I went to a 3500 system, made the tie rod and drag link, used new tie rod ends,powered it with a 4600 integral box.
This one steers crisply - like a formula one car.
 

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