Oliver Super 55 steering rebuild

[dbuelke]

I am trying to repair the steering assembly on my Super 55 and don't know which parts I may need because, when I removed the shaft, I found a shish kabob of worn parts that appear to have slipped over each other . To start with, in order to remove the steering wheel, I had to use an acetylene torch and get the center core cherry red before the spline let go with the puller. Apparently, there was packing at the top of the column that went up in smoke, too. I have the Jensales manuals for this tractor, but the images have poor detail and descriptions, especially in this area. What I have appears to be the remains of the bearing assembly with a felt ring around it, a spring, a tapered washer that is much larger than the shaft, a split-steel, flared bushing that seems to fit inside the bearing and snugs to the shaft, and the remains of a cone that was stuck in the upper opening of the column.

Does anyone have a detailed image/schematic or a better description of this mechanism depicting the layout of parts?

In the manual, it implies that the column is to be filled with No.1 multi-purpose lithium or calcium grease (Pp.8-27, #15.) Mine was empty and rusty, with about an inch of water in the gear box. Does this mean the column should be completely filled right up to the steering wheel? I assume this is the source of lubrication for both the lower and the upper bearings and probably prohibits water/condensation from entering the gear box, but with only the lower bearing to retain it, what keeps the grease itself from gravitating into the gearbox - just the difference in viscosity? Finally, there is that little cap screw on the side of the steering column; is it related to greasing, or does it hold the upper bearing or spring? I can't find an explanation for its purpose

 

[devildog1]

Wow brings back thoughts of when I had my Super 55. I tryed to repair the sloppy steering with my 55. Found almost the same issues and did not have a manual. Lower ball bearings were worn and quite sloppy in race, bone dry. Packed them with wheel bearing grease. Also If I remember the wish bars on each side of tractor, where ball inserts in socket had lots of play, wheels would shake like crazy if I hit a pot hole. Could not locate replacement parts so lined socket hole with copper sheeting, it did tightened up steering quite a bit. Yes I know fix was a band aid, but only used tractor with rear blower in winter. Oh small screw cap on side of steering, I used heavy oil in there a few XX's as it helped steering. Good luck with your project, hope you can get good used parts, I could not find parts then,( before internet).Sold tractor long time ago to contractor, now own B3200 TLB.
DevilDog