LT 1050 Steering is skipping

Fish4um · Jun 6, 2011

I have a LT1050 and the steering is starting to skip. It feels like it's skipping the teeth on a gear. The steering wheel is real sloppy. What could be the problem?

OldMachinist · Jun 6, 2011

Check parts #10 and #11 on this diagram for missing teeth. Also make sure #11 is tight on shaft.

Fish4um · Jun 7, 2011

I checked the gears and all looks good. There must be a bushing gone bad. When I move the steering wheel it woobles side to side. I will pull it apart to check. Didn't have time last night. Thanks for the input.

Fish4um · Jun 13, 2011

Oldmachinist,
I pulled it apart this weekend and it's a $3.50 bushing that is worn. I also bought a new gear. The old one did have a small groove in in it. Thanks for your input.

aczlan · Jun 13, 2011

We had that bushing replaced on our LT1050 last summer. However ours had stripped the small gear and chewed up the big one. They replaced all 3 (2 gears and a bushing) and the drive belt (which was shot) while they were in there.

Aaron Z

irklit · May 25, 2012

Well it seems I have the same problem as of today. Over time the steering got sloppy but today just about finished mowing I heard the gears skip. So I stopped checked and the rod where the steering gear is on seems a little loose going back and forth and away from the 2nd larger gear area. So from posting its seems the bushing is shot and of course probably the steering gear worn. My question is having done this, is it something a homeowner can do at home without a lot of grief? Is the bushing area easily accessible? Seems from the diagram its from the top side verus the bottom side where the gear and lock nut are on the stearing rod. Thanks for any guidance. There goes part of MEM Day weekend. Also I presume its best to take the mowing deck off too for easier access and can a car jack be used to prop up the mower or should be enough room to get my fat fingers under there to unbolt and rebolt the gear back on?

aczlan · May 25, 2012

irklit said:
Well it seems I have the same problem as of today. Over time the steering got sloppy but today just about finished mowing I heard the gears skip. So I stopped checked and the rod where the steering gear is on seems a little loose going back and forth and away from the 2nd larger gear area. So from posting its seems the bushing is shot and of course probably the steering gear worn. My question is having done this, is it something a homeowner can do at home without a lot of grief? Is the bushing area easily accessible? Seems from the diagram its from the top side verus the bottom side where the gear and lock nut are on the stearing rod. Thanks for any guidance. There goes part of MEM Day weekend. Also I presume its best to take the mowing deck off too for easier access and can a car jack be used to prop up the mower or should be enough room to get my fat fingers under there to unbolt and rebolt the gear back on?

I would use jackstands or ramps to hold the mower up while I was under it, but otherwise you have the basics down.
Deck must come off to get at everything (unless you are a contortionist).

Aaron Z

irklit · May 26, 2012

Per anothe rpost that gave goo dinstructions in this forum, it took 30 minutes and $10 to fix by replacing the steering shaft gear and bearing type nut on the steering shaft. Take off the steering wheel to help lift the shaft out to put on the bearing type nut and so. Glad I avoided having the dealer come do it for such a quick cheap fix. She turns smooth now.