Farmall A Steering Box

John B. · Jan 6, 2009

My dad's 1939 Farmall "A" has a lot of play in the steering gear box. As far as I know there is no adjustment for this other than to replace the gears but they look fine as do the bearings also. The steering wheel has 3/4 turn freeplay.
Any suggestions?

jason eddleston · Jan 6, 2009

check the the steering gear arm,the piece that has the two tie rods connected,take them off and see if you can move that steering arm left to right buy hand.there is a key way on this part,could be worn out.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 6, 2009

You need to start with the tie rod ends they can be tightened up by removing the cotter pins and using a large screwdriver take the play out of each one and the center also. Then check the arm off the sector it can be loose also. The key in the gear can be worn. The bearing on the end of the steering shaft needs to be tight as end play is determined by that bearing on the steering shaft. A little here and there can make them like new. How is the bushing in the steering shaft and also the out-put shaft there is one where the shaft goes out the bottom and it probably needs a new seal there also on the steering shaft. I have rebuilt several in the last couple yrs and the play can be removed by just working thru all the moving parts.

John B. · Jan 7, 2009

Thanks guys, I'll go and double check these items.

Anonymous-0 · Jan 7, 2009

Last one I work on had a loose steering arm, worn so bad it had to be replaced

Dave Sherburne NY · Jan 7, 2009

The sloppiness comes from wear in every piece of the steering mechanism. Most of it comes from the steering arm on that sticks out the front of the tractor, and is fasten to the vertical shaft coming out the bottom of the steering gear. If it can't be eliminated thru what others have suggested, the veritcal shaft, and steering arm can be replaced with parts from a newer model like a 100 farmall.
Not Cheap, Years ago international made a kit to do just that. No longer available, but the individual parts are. That said, I've done one buy replacing the shaft and the arm, and I've done one by using a soup can bushing around the lower end of the shaft before putting the arm on.

Dave Sherburne NY · Jan 7, 2009

Hopefully if you click on the link you will get an image of the steering system. The most slop is between parts 31 and 20. There is also a key between 20 and the sector gear 19 that needs to be replaced. If you have weights on the front wheels take them off if you don't need them They will fit on you garden tractor. When the A starts shimmying the weights just make things hammer and wear faster.
A steering parts

Farmall A Steering Box

John B.

Well-known Member

jason eddleston

Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

John B.

Well-known Member

Anonymous-0

Well-known Member

Dave Sherburne NY

Well-known Member

Dave Sherburne NY

Well-known Member

Similar threads