LX277AWS Steering

[GreenGuy23]

I took the steering assembly apart on my LX277AWS the other day. I was having a problem where if you steer too far in one direction there will be some popping sounds and the wheels won't move anymore. If you go and help move the wheels in the opposite direction you can turn the wheel and it will grab and start steering again.

The steering shaft splines all look fine. No problems there. The steering gear looks pretty rough. There is a spot on the steering gear where about 3 - 4 teeth are rounded over. The rest of them look fine. I will replace this gear.

The previous owner said that he had replaced it once. I was wondering if this was a common problem, or if I need to check some other stuff while I have it apart?

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

Check the gear at end of steering shaft as well, also look at bushing/brg for steering-shaft and steering gear. There could be too much play that is prematurely rounding off the gears. This was a pretty good steering system.

 

[GreenGuy23]

Thank you.
I priced replacing the steering gear as well as the bushing, bearings, and washers. It wasn稚 too bad. I may just replace the whole mess.

The gear at the end of the steering shaft looks fine. The area where the steering gear meets isn稚 rounded over and seems to be in pretty good shape.

I have a steering gear and steering shaft gear for a LX277 with the 2 wheel steer. I thought about getting on eBay and buying a steering shaft that has the correct splines to accept the replacement gear (the LX277AWS has the gear welded on the end of the steering shaft, the LX277 2WS doesn稚). I just am skeptical that would work. The 2WS version has heaver teeth in the gear. There seems to be a reason they are different.

 

[JimP]

You might also check the rod ends. My 277 wasn't steering right and a little later one rod end separated. I replaced it and a week after that another separated, I replaced them all. 600+ hours on the machine so I can't complain. Jim

 

[GreenGuy23]

Thanks for the suggestion. I will check them out.

I ordered a new steering gear, bearings, washers, and "packing". Something I did notice was the "packing" (which is some type of fiber washer) was listed as having 4. I only removed 1. I am pretty much grabbing at straws. I got the mower for free so I don't care to put a little money into it.