520 - H or 8 only

[bds1984 1,429]

20 hours ago, Handy Don said:

The reduction steering can, with some effort and tweaks, go into pretty much any 300, 400, 500. It expects a swept front axle (with its 1” spindles), with its slightly different geometry.

One noticeable effect is that the steering column is more vertical. Another is that it gets crowded at the base of the hood stand!

There really aren't any tweaks to putting in a gear reduction system into anything else as long as you have the complete system, it was pretty much bolt and go.  The most difficult aspect for my ride's gear reduction steering install was removing the original steering wheel.  I just cut the steering shaft after asking nicely too many times.  I figured that steel can be too demanding if it is a liquid.  As far as the more vertical position of the steering wheel... I've never observed any difference between the two.   Left is my 315-8 and right is my C165 with a complete 520H reduction set up.

Anyways, if I had to choose, I'd go for the 520H with the reduction.  I have both, and there are days I wish my straight axle 520 had that feature.  

  

[JCM 9,130]

A few more 1991  520 - H.

[Bow_Extreme 544]

On 9/12/2023 at 9:22 PM, davem1111 said:

 

Did any 520-8 models have reduction steering?  If not, I guess if a person happened to change it out to reduction, it would "bastardize" the model?    If some of them did have it, and a person did convert one that didn't to one that does, would that be a bad thing?

I added gear reduction steering to the 520-8.  It comes with a minor complication.  The rock shaft extension bracket for the deck lift hits the gear reduction unit.  You have to trim  this.  Other than that, it fits perfectly.  

[Bow_Extreme 544]

On 9/13/2023 at 6:34 PM, bds1984 said:

There really aren't any tweaks to putting in a gear reduction system into anything else as long as you have the complete system, it was pretty much bolt and go.  The most difficult aspect for my ride's gear reduction steering install was removing the original steering wheel.  I just cut the steering shaft after asking nicely too many times.  I figured that steel can be too demanding if it is a liquid.  As far as the more vertical position of the steering wheel... I've never observed any difference between the two.   Left is my 315-8 and right is my C165 with a complete 520H reduction set up.

Anyways, if I had to choose, I'd go for the 520H with the reduction.  I have both, and there are days I wish my straight axle 520 had that feature.  

  

 

It’s not all bolt and go.  Different model 520’s has different fitment issues.