Steering wheel broke on my X500

[Missouri Lad]

I think you really know how it broke/busted... That would be applying weight or lifting on it when you mounted or dismounted the tractor. My JD 345 and the JD 2320 may have a steel ring/frame in it, for there is no flex or bending whatsoever on the steering wheel. Which make one think that John Deere has cheapen their steering wheels and possible other items on their tractors.

You will probably remove it many pieces when you replace the broken due to it's very thin plastic that is suppose to be a safety feature, as the center (hub) part that is on the steering shaft will need a chisel to remove the hub.

 

[radios1]

I think you really know how it broke/busted... That would be applying weight or lifting on it when you mounted or dismounted the tractor. My JD 345 and the JD 2320 may have a steel ring/frame in it, for there is no flex or bending whatsoever on the steering wheel. Which make one think that John Deere has cheapen their steering wheels and possible other items on their tractors.

You will probably remove it many pieces when you replace the broken due to it's very thin plastic that is suppose to be a safety feature, as the center (hub) part that is on the steering shaft will need a chisel to remove the hub.

JD likes to save money when they can get away with it.. I'll go with that one..

 

[dstig1]

Looks like it was molded with a gas-assisted injection molding process. It is a way of molding very thick sections while keeping the weight and cost down by injecting pressurized gas to hollow our the center. Allows for faster cycle times and you don't get horrible sink marks like you typically do in very thick sections. I'd chalk it up to a molding defect.

 

[radios1]

Looks like it was molded with a gas-assisted injection molding process. It is a way of molding very thick sections while keeping the weight and cost down by injecting pressurized gas to hollow our the center. Allows for faster cycle times and you don't get horrible sink marks like you typically do in very thick sections. I'd chalk it up to a molding defect.

so, how did that miss the steel core?.. it's totally missing on this one!!..

 

[dstig1]

I'm saying it never had one and was designed not to have one

 

[radios1]

I'm saying it never had one and was designed not to have one

I'm sure there are people that would ignore the crack, until they get hurt when the second crack appears!..

 

[Amvcane]

My 33year old 318 has no steel in the steering wheel. Same with my 322.
I would guarantee your la145 has no steel core either.

 

[MORRISONSTEEL]

I'm sure there are people that would ignore the crack, until they get hurt when the second crack appears!..

Maybe everyone should wrap themselves in bubble wrap before attempting to mow their yard, sounds like a pretty dangerous en-devour

 

[beenthere]

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing: Sorry, but that was funny.

 

[beenthere]

Just for kicks, today I took a magnet (strong one from a computer hard drive that I dismantled) and checked my gator, 425, 455, and the 4300 steering wheels.. none showed any signs of a steel core.