steering on hay wagon running gears

[audiski86]

I have an 8 ton running gear, can't remember the brand but believe it was an Amish company that has changed names or doesn't manufacture them anymore. When towing down the road say at 35 mph, there is a some side-to-side tracking (not too much maybe a few inches to each side). I am wondering if there are any good articles or explanations someone could give on measuring/adjusting the steering to minimize the tracking.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I do not have much experience in this but on mine I set the center of the front side of the steering wheels 1/4" to 1/2" in versus the center of the rear of the wheel. Hard to explain but I think its called toe-in.

Chris

 

[Duffster]

I have an 8 ton running gear, can't remember the brand but believe it was an Amish company that has changed names or doesn't manufacture them anymore. When towing down the road say at 35 mph, there is a some side-to-side tracking (not too much maybe a few inches to each side). I am wondering if there are any good articles or explanations someone could give on measuring/adjusting the steering to minimize the tracking.

The tongue is likely worn, not really an adjustment to make other than to rebuild the worn parts.

Pick the tongue up when it is not hooked up and move it back and forth it will be real easy to see where it is sloppy.

 

[audiski86]

When I got it and built it last year I did notice some slop in the tongue. If I remember right, you could see where the slop was in one of the attachment bolts so I made some kind of a bushing that got rid of that. Wish I had a picture because it was a while back so I can't think of exactly how and where I did it at the moment.

I have also heard to adjust so it is toe-in slightly, and am wondering as to the exact steps to take to get this precise? How do you set it up to take measurement and where are you measuring from, etc? Maybe I am trying to be too exact?

 

[jayste]

I would check the steering linkage as others have said first. Also, you might check for excessive slop in the wheel bearings. Let us know how it goes.

 

[sweettractors]

I too, would check for play in the front end first and then set toe in. We use a tape measure and try to shoot for the front being in about 1/2 inch more that the back. Inside rubber to inside rubber. This may not be correct for all wagon gears. Ken Sweet

 

[audiski86]

I repacked the bearings when building it last year as well as fixed the tongue slop.

So first I should set the tongue straight, check that the tires are parallel to each other and to the tongue, then set the toe in?

 

[beenthere]

And then, not expect it to pull straight down the road at 35+ mph

But wish you well getting it to pull straight at that speed.

 

[mmurphy]

Running gears are meant to about 25 mph speed. If you tighten and make alignment right you could probably go 35. Some states has a rule if slow moving vehicle sign is on, 25 is top speed or you are speeding.

 

[sweettractors]

And then, not expect it to pull straight down the road at 35+ mph

But wish you well getting it to pull straight at that speed.

We have had good luck with the JD gears tracking well at 50+ and also the Kory wagon gears. All the rest 25-35 MPH (loaded) about as good as it gets. Ken Sweet