Steering wheel shock gave out

Anonymous Poster · Sep 21, 2001

I have a TC29D, which has a tilt steering wheel. After about 150 hours of use, the shock has given out. It leaks oil and won't keep the wheel steady anymore. Anybody else have this problem? The dealer says it was a bad design and this is the second one they've had do this. He said they don't hold up to people moving them every time they get on and off, like I do. They're coming out next week to replace it and take a look at my PTO lever problem (see "TC29D rear PTO lever moves "). I still have about 6 months left on my 2 year warranty, so it won't cost me anything this time, but I'm concerned about it doing it again - after the warranty expires.

RSeymour · Sep 22, 2001

Danny, the same thing happened to my TC29D at about 20 hours. The dealer fixed it & I have had no further problem. I'm now at 250 hours. It should make no difference how often you use it.
Rick Seymour

ERNIEB · Sep 23, 2001

I've got something over 400 hours on my TC29 and have not had this problem. I seldom if ever move it.

Ernie

Bayrat · Dec 1, 2001

Mine froze up within the first couple months I used it and would not hold the column in place. The mechanic sprayed penetrating oil on the pin that acts as a valve activator on the top of the thing and it freed it up. According to him, water gets onto the small activator pin and causes it to corrode, eventually creating a leak, or it just plain sticks. I have heard of these failing and spraying oil up through the opening in the dash into the operators face /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif. I checked in a dealers lot a couple years ago during the winter and every new tractor there had this problem, rendering the tilt mechanism inoperable.

DVerbarg · Dec 1, 2001

When purchasing my TC40D over a year ago, asked the dealer about problems the TCs had. The only problem that they had seen at that time was the steering column cylinder. The dealer indicated that NH knew about the problem, changed vendors for the cylinders, and would replace the cylinders on any that had problems. Apparently is was a quality control issue where only some cylinders would have the problem. Never had the problem with mine.

DaveV

Bird · Dec 1, 2001

That's the only problem my cousin has mentioned having with his TC29D also.

Anonymous Poster · Dec 2, 2001

Like the others said, NH has had a problem with these since the TCs came out. They did change vendors but I couldn't see a major difference in the designs. All the ones I have changed I pack some vaseline around the plunger to help prevent water from getting in there and seizing up the plunger. If the wheel wants to stay all the way up, is usually the plunger being stuck. If the wheel won't stay up, the gas has leaked out and the shock needs to be replaced.

Mosey · Sep 2, 2003

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( but I'm concerned about it doing it again - after the warranty expires.)</font>

My concern has been validated! It failed again yesterday at about 315 hours (3 1/2 years). I just put a block of wood in between it and the dash to hold it in place. I won't buy another cylinder, since they only seem to last about 1 1/2 years, so I'll just pick the best fixed position and fasten it in place somehow, but for now the block of wood is working fine.

Mosey · Sep 8, 2003

Well, I guess it wasn't broken after all. I think the lever that you have to pull up on to adjust it was just sticking. It seems to be OK again now!

Mosey · Mar 8, 2004

Now this shock has started leaking, just like the first one did, so I'm guessing it won't be long before it gives out again. If I pull up on the lever to adjust the tilt, oil squirts out under a fair amount of pressure.

How may others are having this problem? My warranty is over, and I hate the thought of having to buy a new one of these every couple years.