XR 3140H Steer cylinder rod end.....

[spruce Deere]

I had noticed a while back movement between the steer cylinder and the steer arm thing that ties the steer cylinder and the tie rod together. Of course, I Was busy, in the middle of trying to get stuff done and bookmarked it for a later date.

I looked up the steering parts on LS parts web page, It just displayed the pin going threw the rod end of the cylinder. Unless I missed something somewhere, it did not show a bearing or bushing that would go in the rod end of cylinder.... Well, hopefully its just the pin, because there was no part breakdown for the steer cylinder to get just the rod end for the cylinder, would half to buy the hole enchilada if that was the case.

I was able to tear into the joint today, there is a self Aligning bearing and it was shot. GE20ES is the number on the bearing. They are as common as water and I have one on the way.

There is no seal on the bearing and it looked like water and grime had made its way into the bearing along the pin and the side of the bearing plugging the internal lube holes in the bearing. Grease as I do, till grease flowed from the joint, Even with the lube holes plugged the grease would flow from the joint, right out along the pin instead of threw the bearing...

 

[Avenger]

Interesting! Good catch!
Is this the bearing under the steering arm on the king pin? I don't think my tractor has a bearing on the tie-rod ends, just pins.
I looked at the parts catalog for your tractor (and mine, which are pretty much identical) and I didn't see that bearing in the diagrams. Just curious. It's good to know what to look out for. My steering has been pretty great (knock on wood) these last several years after my initial problems with the stop bolts and breaking a steering arm. Since then, its been tight and working fine. But this bearing might be something to check it there is not a seal!

 

[spruce Deere]

Thanks Avenger good to hear from you!

It's not the king pin bearing. It's hidden in the eye of the steer cylinder rod. I could not find anything on, about or for the bearing, looking at all stuff labeled 'steering'.

Just looking at it, you think simple bushing and a pin, but there is a nifty little self aligning bearing in there that the parts blow up does not show.

There is a snap ring on the bottom of the pin that keeps the pin in place. Pull the pin, turn the steering wheel to retract the cyl.rod and there will be another snap ring holding 'the not the parts blow up' bearing in the eye of the rod. Remove that snap ring, support the eye/rod with a jack stand and a small piece of wood and tap out old bearing from the eye.

It's a common bearing. Did a little more snooping around after ordering a new bearing, i happened appon one with a seal... well at least I know better now.

 

[spruce Deere]

Received the new bearing thursday, It all went back together easy.

Pre-lubed the bearing inside the eye of the cylinder rod before final assembly. After it was all back together, rod and steer connection arm, I greased the bearing after tuning the steering wheel to move the joint to different angles to ensure grease distribution throughout the new bearing.