'44 JD A - Front wheel "wobble"

chetlenox · Feb 16, 2009

Hello all,

I'm a relatively new (proud) owner of a recently restored 1944 JD model A. I've got plenty of things to learn, but one thing that has me a little curious from a safety perspective is the amount of "wobble" I should expect from the front tires. It is generic row crop (two tires in a V-configuration) and I've noticed that I get a pretty generous amount of wiggle in those front tires. I notice it especially when I'm in 5th or 6th gear and headed down the road. Sometimes it tracks straight and wiggles very little, but other times they wiggle quite a bit. The steering seems to be pretty solid, with only a small amount of play and pretty good tracking.

Should I be worried about that? What is a typical amount of wobbling in those front tires? As you can imagine, the only time I tend to worry about it is when I'm in road-gear and rolling along...

Thanks!

Chet.

MPK · Feb 16, 2009

I am thinking maybe your steering gear is worn too much. I have run a A & B many years and never had enough wobble to cause concern.

PBrowning · Feb 17, 2009

Yes - you should be concerned about it -- it will not improve! And the problem is that it will worsen. There are a number of variables that can contribute to your problem, some are adjustment and some are wear.

Write me an email with the keywords "Loose Steering" and I will shoot back an excerpt from my Restoration Guide that should get you pointed in the right direction for a fix. (PatB)

johns48jdb · Feb 17, 2009

pat will set you straight, but just for your info if you have to drive it on the road until you get it fixed, slow down as much as you can, of course, but you can run the right rear tire just off the edge of the road and that will put tension on the steering to where you can move on a little safer. not a fix and not the safeest thing to do. watch for real rough places. personaly i prefer to idle it down as slow as it will go and just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Mike Aylward · Feb 17, 2009

Chet, this suggestion is for after you have done as much as you can in adjusting the steering box of your tractor. If it still wobbles some it is often helpful to run your right hand front tire at about 5 lbs. less air. This will cause the front end to pull to the right just a little and will make the front end more stable at higher speeds. An old "farmer fix". Mike

chetlenox · Feb 17, 2009

Thanks guys! I appreciate advice. I'll take it easy until I get this thing resolved. Pat, I fired off an email to you, I appreciate any info you think could help.

Thanks again,

Chet.

Anonymous-0 · Feb 17, 2009

My 35B or37A don't wobble because they sure don't go very fast. The 46A will shake you to pieces. The poor man's fix was to run the fronts under inflated (20psi) and one a little less than the other; made them even more miserable to steer around the yard.

'44 JD A - Front wheel "wobble"

chetlenox

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MPK

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PBrowning

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johns48jdb

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Mike Aylward

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chetlenox

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Anonymous-0

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