I bought a 3000 recently. Has no power steering, is very hard to steer, much harder than another one that I drove. Can there be something too tight in the front end? The steering gearbox seems easy to move. Already tried greasing the front end. No loader or weights on front.
Soundguy
Old Timer
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- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
turn the wheel side to side.. is there rotational play before the steering arms start to move? is there any rise / fall of the steering wheel into / out of the column?
prime cause of 'hard' steering are worn thrust bearings, and bad spindle bushings.
worn draglinks and hubs can cause steering play, as well as excessive sector backlash and bad sector bushings.. they cause excessive play as well.
sector gear backlash adjustment that has been tightened to far to 'try' to make up for other wear will also cause hard steering.. and lack of lube in the steering box can cause harder than normal steering.
not to worry.. the ford 2-arm manual steering boxes are ez to rebuild..
soundguy
prime cause of 'hard' steering are worn thrust bearings, and bad spindle bushings.
worn draglinks and hubs can cause steering play, as well as excessive sector backlash and bad sector bushings.. they cause excessive play as well.
sector gear backlash adjustment that has been tightened to far to 'try' to make up for other wear will also cause hard steering.. and lack of lube in the steering box can cause harder than normal steering.
not to worry.. the ford 2-arm manual steering boxes are ez to rebuild..
soundguy
One of our 3000s steers easy to the right but is wicked hard to the left. I pulled the fill plug to find the steering box looks dry. I'll add some 90W to it today and see if that doesn't help....otherwise looks like I'll tear into it. Hoping one of the pitman shafts isn't damaged..
--Sk
Last edited:
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
her to one side is likely a thrust bearing issue. does the steering wheel rise or fall any when steered lock to lock?
with front on jacks, how does it steer?
if your sector seals leak, try nlgi #0 ep grease instead of the 90w oil in the manual portion of the steering gearbox.
soundguy
with front on jacks, how does it steer?
if your sector seals leak, try nlgi #0 ep grease instead of the 90w oil in the manual portion of the steering gearbox.
soundguy
Steering wheel doesn't seem to rise or fall when turning lock to lock.
With the front end raised....it steers easily left and right.
I added some 90W and adjusted the forward pitman shaft that connects to the RHS drag link. Steering left is a tiny bit better now.....but still not right.
--Sk
Soundguy
Old Timer
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2002
- Messages
- 51,575
- Location
- Central florida
- Tractor
- RK 55HC,ym1700, NH7610S, Ford 8N, 2N, NAA, 660, 850 x2, 541, 950, 941D, 951, 2000, 3000, 4000, 4600, 5000, 740, IH 'C' 'H', CUB, John Deere 'B', allis 'G', case VAC
doesn't seem to rise?
measure and be sure.. as lil as 1/8" can make for binding and hard steering as it means excessive thrust play.
soundguy
measure and be sure.. as lil as 1/8" can make for binding and hard steering as it means excessive thrust play.
soundguy
Brash
New member
Another reason for hard to steer on the 3000 is the front axle pivot pin if this is worn it alters the geometry of the front axle. If the pin and bush are worn when you are travelling forward the angle of the king pin is accentuated rear wards. As there is quite a distance from the axle pivot to the centre of the hub, wear on the pivot pin is multiplied by the time it gets to the hub. On my own 3000 it was extremly heavy and replacing the pivot pin and bush made a vast improvement.
Tx Jim
New Member
Laneman
Is steering gearbox under steering wheel full of oil?
Is steering gearbox under steering wheel full of oil?
