Gc steering

[not2old]

Anybody else experience a loose steering cylinder on a GC series tractor? The cylinder is held in with a bracket at each end that has had the hole enlarge a fair amount to allow the cylinder to move about while trying to steer. New brackets may reduce the slop, but still will allow the cylinder to move about too much. I certainly don't want to replace the cylinder if I don't have to. How did you fix this?

 

[jimmyhouser]

Anybody else experience a loose steering cylinder on a GC series tractor? The cylinder is held in with a bracket at each end that has had the hole enlarge a fair amount to allow the cylinder to move about while trying to steer. New brackets may reduce the slop, but still will allow the cylinder to move about too much. I certainly don't want to replace the cylinder if I don't have to. How did you fix this?

Try and turn em around. Maybe swap sides?

 

[not2old]

Try and turn em around. Maybe swap sides?

I'm doing that right now but it will only be a temporary measure as the brackets will not be tight. Looks like a poor design to me. Others should check theirs and try to do something before it gets too bad. I'll post a cure if I find one.

 

[ray66v]

I seem to remember one person having that problem, a long time ago.

Sorry, I don't remember anymore about it.

It's not been a common issue.

 

[WranglerX]

The was a message thread a year or so ago.... Probably need to do search... Seem to remember brackets were "defective" and needed to be replaced....

Dale

 

[blackd]

I think it was my thread a year ago. Where I just replaced the brackets with new. Truthfully, I have gone to a zero turn mower since, and the tractor gets much less use. There was/is significant wear on the steering cylinder ends, so don't let this go too long or you will be replacing the cylinder. The wear is not so bad as to make it unusable, but I can see how it could get past that point with inattention.

I think my cause was cutting grass in a relatively rough pasture with the FEL mounted. I did this for a couple of years.

 

[not2old]

I turned the brackets around and also bent them to apply more pressure on the cylinder. It's now very tight and will work for now. I will keep an eye on it.

 

[jimmyhouser]

I turned the brackets around and also bent them to apply more pressure on the cylinder. It's now very tight and will work for now. I will keep an eye on it.

Heavy loader work and driving fast across rough terrain is a killer on these cylinder brackets. On larger tractors, the tie rods give way. Mowing over trees and brush will do it too if you don't have a cylinder protector. Cylinder protectors are usually home fabricated with a welder, drill, and a cold beer.

 

[cdaigle430]

Anybody else experience a loose steering cylinder on a GC series tractor? The cylinder is held in with a bracket at each end that has had the hole enlarge a fair amount to allow the cylinder to move about while trying to steer. New brackets may reduce the slop, but still will allow the cylinder to move about too much. I certainly don't want to replace the cylinder if I don't have to. How did you fix this?

If I remember correctly there was a recall on the GC2400 and GC2600 because the steering cylinder brackets were installed backwards at assembly. I cant find any reference to it anymore though.

https://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/massey-ferguson-owning-operating/217326-gc-2410-steering.html