B7500 steering wheel not straight!

[sandman2234]

I bent the link on my 1100 several times, the one between the pitman arm and the steering knuckle. Everytime I caught a tree or post, it would bend, and I would straighten it. It developed stress cracks in the bend area, so I ordered a new one, rather than trying to match the left and right hand metric threads. I sold the tractor (1st time) and the new owner promptly hit a post with it, and broke the rod. Not knowing I had a new one, he took the two pieces to the shop, ground the joint and welded the two ends back together. When I bought it back from him, I noticed the weld and told him I had a new one at home. Guess I should have saved my money and used my brain like he did.
David from jax

 

[Wal]

OK, I finally made it over to my local Kubota dealer and talked to a service guy about my "problem". He said it is not terribly uncommon with that type of "power steering". He said to not worry about it, nothing's broke. I just need to pop the steering wheel off and put it back in the proper orientation. He also said it may very well occur again over time, and to fix it using the same procedure.

 

[Dusty]

When I bought my Bronco, the steering wheel was put on crooked, I took the center cap off removed the nut that holds the wheel of then replaced it straight, My problem was solved I doubt that is his problem cause he said its getting worse?
Lots of stuff in the steering linkage that can cause that.
Jim

When you moved the steering wheel, you masked the problem rather than solving it. The number of turns to one side was different than the number of turns to the other side as a result of the tie rods not being set properly. That is what made the wheel off center. The proper way to do an alignment is to lock the steering wheel in its straight ahead position without regard to the location of the tires, and having the steering box shaft at top dead center. Inside the steering box, the worm shaft has a high spot on it that is at TDC when the steering wheel is properly set. You then adjust the tie rod ends till the wheels are also pointed straight ahead. This is a common mistake by front end alignment people that want to take the short cut and only adjust one tie rod. If the steering wheel isn't properly centered, then the directional canceling mechanism can't work properly. It relies on the proper location to cancel the directional signal switch.
You could have gotten under the vehicle and tightened one tie rod and loosened the other until the steering wheel was in its proper orientation without effecting the front end alignment. If you tighten the left by one revolution, then you loosen the right by one revolution, or vice versa. The alignment will remain the same, and the steering wheel will move to its proper centered position.
Dusty