Steering Column Upper Bearing Repair

[edgro 677]

Here is what I did to repair the upper steering column bearing on 417A.

Was not able to get the steering wheel off, so I cut the shaft, then welded it back together.

This did prevent using the plastic cover to the upper column, so I just painted it black.

Steering is good and tight now.

 

[JC 1965 1,530]

WOW  !!   Very nice clean fix.     Thanks for sharing.

[DougC 2,641]

Looks like a snow thrower shaft bearing and a couple if sandwich flanges. make a couple spacers and voila!!!!   Nicely done.   

[cleat 6,711]

Nothing better than ball bearings on the steering shaft.

 

Will last forever and make steering so much smoother and easier.

[DennisThornton 4,769]

Well I'm liking that!  OH!  I forgot to "like" that...

[edgro 677]

Thanks for the comments. the steering is good and tight now. here are pics of my "steering wheel removal"

[Fun Engineer 859]

Edgro

Where did you buy this?

[WHX?? 49,485]

1 hour ago, Fun Engineer said:

Edgro

Where did you buy this?

Yes inquiring minds want to know! I was thinking about some type of pillow block bearing??

@cleat didn't you do something like this to your 520's?

Edited November 2, 2016 by WHX8

[cleat 6,711]

I got rid of the bushings, drilled the hole bigger, and pressed in wheel bearings.

 

Here are pics of both early and late style 520's that have ben converted.

 

 

Cleat

[DennisThornton 4,769]

3 hours ago, cleat said:

I got rid of the bushings, drilled the hole bigger, and pressed in wheel bearings.

 

Here are pics of both early and late style 520's that have ben converted.

 

 

 

Cleat

I was rapidly scrolling down and saw some pictures and said to myself, "That looks like something Cleat would have done.".  Scrolled back up and YEP!  He did!

[benji756 341]

I used a 2 bolt dodge pillow block bearing on my 520 I'll get some pictures as soon as I can and for my steering wheel removal I cut the shaft and made a clamp using 2 3/4 inch 2 bolt clamps and a piece of steel tubing I'll get some pictures of that also.

I was amazed at the difference it made on how easy it steers now.

[edgro 677]

I bought most parts on ebay and also some from TSC.

I did see that TSC has the bearing and retainers, which I had gotten off ebay

[Sarge 3,464]

You can also sleeve the steering shaft a bit or weld it up if necessary and use bronze sleeve bearings - they work great .

Sarge

[USHorse 41]

Edgro,  does that bearing swivel to compensate for the shaft running down at an angle?  Or is that just an illusion? 

Edited December 13, 2016 by USHorse
Missing word

[edgro 677]

Yes. The bearing holder is slightly concave, and the bearing is slightly convex. this allows the bearing to be mounted at an angle from the bearing holder

[USHorse 41]

Thanks Edgro.  I've got a 416 that has the sloppy steering wheel because of the fatigued metal it passes through. Steering wheel impossible to get off (by my efforts).  So, going to cut shaft right below wheel.  Using other RS member's ideas, purchase a 3/4" quick connect and new wheel that mounts to the quick connect.  Will have to drill hold through the shaft for the quick connect. But, I think I will try your shaft support idea as hardware is off the shelf.  I am not a metal fabricator or welder so limited in what i can do.   If a big hammer constitutes a metal fabricator, than i am one  .

 

Great images from all those posted here.  Will attempt fix during holiday break if garage is not too cold. 

 

 

[ohiofarmer 3,280]

It only takes a second to add a few drops of oil to these bushings [if you think about doing it]  Another bushing that can wear big time is the idler pulley for the transmission belt. You find these on the newer toro series stuff and on plenty of bushings on the MTD type stuff. I got a MTD for free and the thing steered HARD. Bushings and even the front spindles were dry. Almost too late for the oil, but it will still run with some slop in the steering

Edited December 15, 2016 by ohiofarmer