The "Colossus" project

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

Maybe you could use a gearbox like I had on my C mine is 1:1 but think they make it in different ratios.

Steeringwheelshaft with a U-joint coming in, and the steeringshaft going out.

 

[ebinmaine 67,497]

1 hour ago, Maxwell-8 said:

Maybe you could use a gearbox like I had on my C mine is 1:1 but think they make it in different ratios.

Steeringwheelshaft with a U-joint coming in, and the steeringshaft going out.

 

I've looked at those too. And I like the idea. 

One 90° gearbox and one u-joint. Done...

 

And again it comes down to me being cheeeeep. 

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

13 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

 

And again it comes down to me being cheeeeep. 

Aren't we all haha 

 

They are oilfilled and sealed, strong, no play and maintance free!

If you can find such an gearbox new or secondhands you have a bulletproof solution.

 

[Horse Newbie 7,069]

3 hours ago, bds1984 said:

I'm kinda on the hunt for one right now so I can convert my straight axle 520 over to the gear reduction setup 

So if a 520 has a swept forward axle, it will have the gear reduction steering, and if it has gear reduction steering, it will have a swept forward axle ?

[JCM 9,165]

I believe the gear reduction steering was first available in 1991 on the 520. @Horse Newbie

[Pullstart 62,876]

1 hour ago, Horse Newbie said:

So if a 520 has a swept forward axle, it will have the gear reduction steering, and if it has gear reduction steering, it will have a swept forward axle ?

My 520-8 has a swept axle, no reduction gears.  

[ebinmaine 67,497]

18 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

My 520-8 has a swept axle, no reduction gears.  

I'm fairly sure a 520-8 was built originally with a straight axle. 

Perhaps a PO add-on or swap out?

 

[kpinnc 12,031]

3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I'm fairly sure a 520-8 was built originally with a straight axle. 

Perhaps a PO add-on or swap out?

 

Any 520 model after 1990 had swept axles. 91 and up had reduction gears.

 

The only exception was the 520-HC. It had swept axles before 1990.

Edited November 24, 2021 by kpinnc

[ebinmaine 67,497]

3 hours ago, kpinnc said:

 

Any 520 model after 1990 had swept axles. 91 and up had reduction gears.

 

The only exception was the 520-HC. It had swept axles before 1990.

Interesting. @Bens vintage tractors has 520-8. Thought his had a straight axle. Perhaps it's Ben's that was swapped, not Kevin's.  

 

[cafoose 3,355]

My 88 or 89 HC has a swept axle

[JoeM 7,874]

15 hours ago, Maxwell-8 said:

Maybe you could use a gearbox like I had on my C mine is 1:1 but think they make it in different ratios.

Steering wheel shaft with a U-joint coming in, and the steering shaft going out.

I think the 520's reduction is 2:1.

Something I seen on another garden tractor is a piece of hydraulic hose in place of a u joint clamped to the shafts. They use that set up on the tilt wheel. 

[ebinmaine 67,497]

2 minutes ago, JoeM said:

I think the 520's reduction is 2:1.

Something I seen on another garden tractor is a piece of hydraulic hose in place of a u joint clamped to the shafts. They use that set up on the tilt wheel. 

2:1 plus whatever the stock ratio is.

 

Now that hydraulic hose... That's interesting.

Given the example of a standard u-joint being at a maximum bend of 35°, any idea what the maximum bend of that hydraulic hose while turning might be?

[ranger 1,750]

14 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I've looked at those too. And I like the idea. 

One 90° gearbox and one u-joint. Done...

 

And again it comes down to me being cheeeeep. 

For a “cheap” reduction box, how about picking up some gears, (4x old lathe change wheels perhaps), sandwiched between a couple of plates with spacers in a “compound”, (double reduction, layshaft type configuration). A few bushes,keys, etc, and you’re in business. Fitted anywhere in the column where there’s room, especially if you’re considering extending  the column anyway? + you can tailor the gear ratio to suit! 

Doug.

[JoeM 7,874]

13 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

any idea what the maximum bend of that hydraulic hose while turning might be

I know the machine wheel would move 3-4 inches. 

The bend radius on 3/4 hose is 4 3/4" for what that is worth.

I may still have that assembly, if I get up to the shop today I will look around. 

 

I went to the parts page and my bad on the clamp, they ran a bolt through the hose (part #20) and shaft on both ends.

 

[Lee1977 6,659]

1 hour ago, JoeM said:

I know the machine wheel would move 3-4 inches. 

The bend radius on 3/4 hose is 4 3/4" for what that is worth.

I may still have that assembly, if I get up to the shop today I will look around. 

 

I went to the parts page and my bad on the clamp, they ran a bolt through the hose (part #20) and shaft on both ends.

 

Your heims joints will work better then the plates with that hydraulic tubing. You can used a 1/2" pipe and vice to bend some 16 gage metal to reinforce where the bolt does trough the hydraulic tubing. 

[ebinmaine 67,497]

2 hours ago, ranger said:

double reduction, layshaft type

Interesting you'd bring that up because I was mulling over if some sort of small transmission would fit in there...

 

[ranger 1,750]

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Interesting you'd bring that up because I was mulling over if some sort of small transmission would fit in there...

 

 

10 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Interesting you'd bring that up because I was mulling over if some sort of small transmission would fit in there...

 

Another idea to consider Eric, how about a small steering rack, shorten it, attach rack to the front axle and rig up a column with U/Js to connect?

Or if you really want to exercise the “money saving muscle”, grab some old bicycle sprockets and chain, add an extra short upper column, with appropriately sized sprockets on each shaft, chain between the two. Support the top of original column with Heim joints, the same with bottom of new upper column, chain tension adjusted by adjusting Heim joints. Minimal backlash, single stage reduction, maintenance, a quick squirt of chain grease, but most importantly, “CHEAP”!

 

Doug.

[kpinnc 12,031]

4 hours ago, cafoose said:

My 88 or 89 HC has a swept axle

 

Exactly.

 

6 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

The only exception was the 520-HC. It had swept axles before 1990.

 

I just wish the faster gearing made it's way to the rest of the 520 line!

[Oldskool 6,644]

I have looked at the reduction steering myself. Curious to know to tooth count on all 4 gears.

Anybody know off the top of your head?

 

 

 

@ebinmaine Eric ever think of using an auger gearbox from a snowblower for a steering box?

[ebinmaine 67,497]

1 hour ago, Oldskool said:

auger gearbox from a snowblower for a steering box

Well that's an interesting idea. 

 

I have a 1978 Cub cadet snowblower that we borrowed the engine from...

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

5 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

we borrowed the engine from...

Only temporarily I am sure.

[Oldskool 6,644]

16 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Well that's an interesting idea. 

 

I have a 1978 Cub cadet snowblower that we borrowed the engine from...

I have one here I have been thinking of using.

The thoughts were to use the case bolts on the side "left side in pic" to mount it.

[Maxwell-8 4,275]

What's the ratio on those?

[Oldskool 6,644]

10 minutes ago, Maxwell-8 said:

What's the ratio on those?

I'm not sure off the top of my head but turning the inner fan by hand it seems "good". Also depends on the length of the steering arm 

[ebinmaine 67,497]

1 hour ago, Maxwell-8 said:

Only temporarily I am sure.

It's possible it could go back on there at some point. I doubt it. That snowblower was never much good for blowing snow.