Suburban Question - Steering Rod Question.

[jeremyrschroeder 6]

Does any one know how the steering wheel is attached to the rod? Is it with a roller pin? or with an allen head screw??

[Molon_Labe 731]

Jeremy. My Suburban 400 has a roll pin on the steering wheel.

[jeremyrschroeder 6]

Jeremy. My Suburban 400 has a roll pin on the steering wheel.

Darn - if thats the case there is no hope mine will come out with out drilling. I have never tried that though - hopefully it doesn't eat up my bits. Thanks for the answering my question

[Molon_Labe 731]

Darn - if thats the case there is no hope mine will come out with out drilling. I have never tried that though - hopefully it doesn't eat up my bits. Thanks for the answering my question

Put some penetrating oil on the pin for a few days to help loosen it up. The pin diameter is .190 uncompressed, just use the appropriate drift and hammer it out. Don't be afraid to hit it hard!

[Racinbob 11,293]

It would be a good idea to support the shaft when you drive the pin out. Maybe pull the tractor next to a tree and use a 2x4 or, depending on your situation, lay the tractor on it's side and a 2x4 to the floor.

[pacer 3,174]

What racinbob said...stressed! This is important, striking the pin without back-up makes the wheel/shaft 'springy' and you lose a lot of the impact from the blow. These dang pins and wheel can be a real pain. On my last 2 removals, the first one the pin drove out with little fuss and the wheel also came off relatively easy -- then the second one! the pin came out fine, but the wheel is STILL on the shaft!!. Its the wheel that has the non removable center and to get to it with a press would mar the rather nice condition wheel, so, its sitting with the instrument cowl still attached to the shaft/wheel - someday I'll get it out and make another run at it....

[jeremyrschroeder 6]

Thanks guys I appreciate the advice!

 

When I got this tractor it was a bit too far to bring crapy trailer so I was convinced it would fit in my SUV if the steering wheel would come off. Though we tried and tried the wheel would not budge and a big storm was coming. The guy did't have any patientence to start with and was naturally a super temper guy. So we decided to just hack the rod. Which won't be too bad as rod and drilling a new holes for the pins is less than $12 and he was over an hour away. 

That is it should be a good deal if I can get the wheel off of it. Though - does any one sell new wheels? 

[AMC RULES 37,141]

If you eventually do decide to drill it out...

be sure to use the next size larger bit.