Gc2300 steering cylinder loose

[massey driver]

By accident today I grabbed onto the steering cylinder shaft and the cylinder moved around.It doesn't move side to side but will move up and down and back to front.Is this a normal thing or do I have something thats worn out.Looking in the parts manual I see that the cylinder is held in place by a plate on each end thats bolted to the axle housing.It looks like the cylinder end bolt's [nuts] just rest in these brackets so wondering if any one can tell me if this is normal or what??? Thanks Larry.

 

[irvingj]

I just went out and grabbed mine to yank on it... all I could get was a bit of clicking, which seemed like normal play. No movement otherwise.... You're talking about the cylinder that's hooked to the tie-rod end, right? (Is the tie-rod end worn?) How many hours on the tractor? (Mine has about 125)

 

[massey driver]

The tie rods are tight both sides.Where it moves is right between the plate thats mounted to the front axle and the cylinder.On Pg.128 in the parts manual plate's # 11 and the cylinder rod ends # 4 & # 7 it moves around in there.I suspect some one has had problems in that area before I got the tractor as on mine there's 2 plates on each side where the manual shows only 1 on each side.So I wonder if thats prone to wear or what. I bought it used and it had 250hrs showing but the dealer said it had 1250hrs can't see it being more then that as its a 2007.Guess after Christmas I" have to take it apart and see whats wrong.It doesn't affect the steering but I don't like when things move if there not supposed to.All bolts are tight so what can it be.??? Larry

 

[Rob2310]

My 2310 was the same way, the cyclinder moved between the mounting plates. I suspect that the person welding the brackets on was doing it wrong, as I believe it would be better to have no play in this area. My 2610 does not have any movement in this area.

 

[massey driver]

Now after reading your reply is the cylinder supposed to be welded to those brackets or do the bolts {nuts} on the ends of the cylinder just rest inside the brackets keeping the cylinder in place.Anyone who has removed there front axle abd steering cylinder can answer this.If its broken away from the brackets then I'll have to take things apart and weld it back together properly.But I'd like to know before hand if this is the case or if the cylinder just free floats and rests on the nuts on the cylinder ends which I think would have a shoulder on them.Thanks for any info from any who have had problems and have had there's apart.Larry

 

[irvingj]

Larry-- you mean play between the steering cylinder end ("rod cover," #4 on the parts diagram) and the plate ("cylinder stay," # 11), where they fit together?

Compare it with the pic of mine, which shows the right side. Mine are both very tight, with no left-to-right or up & down movement. Has yours got rust around it? Any clearance around the plate's round hole that you can see? Where'd they put the "extra" plate, on top of the original?

Looking at the parts book and the service manual, it looks like the only thing that holds the cylinder in place (up/down and in/out, from front) is the hole in the plate fitting tightly over the round (with flats) rod cover- there's no other connection that I can see. It looks like left-to-right (longitudinal) holding is accomplished by the length of the cylinder, against which the plates exert pressure when they're both bolted in, "squeezing," in effect.

Perhaps improperly torqued bolts a long time ago? Or, could it be that the rod end, which threads into the cylinder, is for some reason in far enough that the cylinder is essentially "shorter," which allows for some slop between the plates? (worn internal parts?)

I can't believe the mounting locations on the cast axle would move...but the mounting bolt holes mate to a machined flat surface on the casting; perhaps a boo-boo there, as in not quite enough metal removed?

At least it looks like most of those parts can be had individually! Let us know what you find- sounds like others may have this issue, too.

 

[DMW]

The cylinder does "float" between the two brackets. A solidly mounted cylinder would be prone to breaking. I've seen similarly mounted cylinders snap the rod end if too tight, a little bit of play is a good thing. Perhaps the cylinder isn't original, and has been replaced with one of slightly different dimension, requiring a second bracket on both ends to keep it in position?

 

[massey driver]

I went out and took one side off,can't figure out why they have 2 plates on each side as there both identical.I did notice that the bore in the plate is about 1/16" larger diam. then the cylinder end [nut] it does have a shoulder on that nut so thats where the plate sits on holding the cylinder in place.The cylinder doesn't move side to side [towards the tire's] if it did I'd have sloppy steering which I don't.Looking at stuff it doesn't look like anything is worn out.Not too sure what to think about this. After Christmas I'll have to take a day and pull stuff further apart and have a good look.Then I'll take some measurements of the cylinder ends[nuts] and the bore in the plate and take a trip to Massey to see what they can tell me.The way it is it's not affecting the steering ,my concern was is this the way it was made.However after looking at the picture irvingj posted his looks tight where mine looks sloppy.Right now snowblower is on ,quickhitch is on I'll have to take that off one day for easier and better access.Larry

 

[irvingj]

If this helps, Larry, I get just a tad less than 2" ID on the hole in the plate.

Sorry the flash didn't pick it up better.... but the tips of the calipers are centered on the hole.

 

[massey driver]

If this helps, Larry, I get just a tad less than 2" ID on the hole in the plate.

Sorry the flash didn't pick it up better.... but the tips of the calipers are centered on the hole.

I had to run out and measure mine and sure enough its just under 2" ID as well.So Next thing will be to take the plate off and measure the [nut] on the end of the cylinder.Right now its snowing and were supposed to be in for some rough weather so don't want to do anything except blow some snow this winter as this will be my first time using this tractor to do so.As always Larry .