I drove the wheels off her...

[krystolo 504]

Engine is running well and I was driving my tractor in the sunshine, when I noticed the inside part of the tire was rubbing on the rod that attaches to the steering (not sure what that’s called). Then this nut fell off somewhere, and the wheel came off. 
it seems like the bearing? is plastic. 
 

Did this happen because my wheels are too small? Or did something just wiggle loose?

[krystolo 504]

[krystolo 504]

[Pullstart 62,912]

You’re having a heck of a time with that machine, huh?  

[krystolo 504]

11 minutes ago, pullstart said:

You’re having a heck of a time with that machine, huh?  

No kidding!!

Lots to learn! Just wish it wasn’t all at once. 

[953 nut 55,321]

Sounds like the previous owner put the wrong wheel on your horse.                    

I believe the front wheel on your tractor should be retained on the spindle by a 3/8-16 bolt and the wheel should have flanged ball bearings inside and out. The front spindle is 3/4" diameter, may be able to find a used one locally or call Lincoln at A-Z    https://a-ztractor.com/

[8ntruck 7,016]

Could be the previous owner (PO) put a different size tire or maybe a different size wheels on the tractor that needed some spacers to get the tire clear of the tie rods.

 

 @953 nut just beat me to the draw.

[krystolo 504]

2 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Sounds like the previous owner put the wrong wheel on your horse.                    

I believe the front wheel on your tractor should be retained on the spindle by a 3/8-16 bolt and the wheel should have flanged ball bearings inside and out. The front spindle is 3/4" diameter, may be able to find a used one locally or call Lincoln at A-Z    https://a-ztractor.com/

Do you have a link to a parts diagram of the whole steering system? It seems that the spindle is loose from the tie rod, and is spinning independently. Is this normal? 
 

thank you!

[Pullstart 62,912]

VERY crude drawing, I know... but the tie rod has a little ball socket inside each end.  Sometimes they wear and pop apart.  Are these in tact, or missing a nut under the steering arm by chance?

 

 

[krystolo 504]

I think the problem is the spindle assembly.  It seems like the weld between the tab that connects the spindle to the tie rod and the spindle has come loose, allowing the spindle to rotate freely.  I think this is why it was rubbing the tire.

 

Unless that is supposed to spin? Maybe there is a nut there or some other way to stabilize it?

[krystolo 504]

@pullstart I will check that area this weekend.  Thanks!

[krystolo 504]

Also, who uses plastic bearings? What the heck??

[953 nut 55,321]

8 hours ago, krystolo said:

It seems like the weld between the tab that connects the spindle to the tie rod and the spindle has come loose

Sounds logical to me. You may be able to remove the snap ring from the top of the spinel and disconnect the tie rod and have a friend with a welder repair it.

 

8 hours ago, krystolo said:

Also, who uses plastic bearings? What the heck??

MTD and others who make mowers to sell at the Big Box stores.               

[squonk 41,155]

15 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

Sounds logical to me. You may be able to remove the snap ring from the top of the spinel and disconnect the tie rod and have a friend with a welder repair it.

 

MTD and others who make mowers to sell at the Big Box stores.               

I have seen that weld break more than once. Not a big deal to fix.

[squonk 41,155]

Looking at that spindle top closer, it doesn't look stock. could we have a pic of the spindle where the tire fits on? 

 

[Pullstart 62,912]

10 minutes ago, squonk said:

Looking at that spindle top closer, it doesn't look stock. could we have a pic of the spindle where the tire fits on? 

 

 

This tractor is “at the farm” and we get to wait until the weekend for some reason 

 

I have plenty of parts front ends, I offered to get the right parts needed to NC. 

[krystolo 504]

I think I have uploaded too many pictures, and the site is limiting file size. Is there a way around this?

[Pullstart 62,912]

Becoming a supporting member is a cheap way to have unlimited photo uploads, among other benefits.  It helps to preserve this growing knowledge database for years to come and some members offer discounts on purchases as well.  

 

 

[krystolo 504]

55 minutes ago, squonk said:

Looking at that spindle top closer, it doesn't look stock. could we have a pic of the spindle where the tire fits on? 

 

I have a few more wheel pics, but having trouble uploading them due to file size restrictions. 

[953 nut 55,321]

48 minutes ago, squonk said:

Looking at that spindle top closer, it doesn't look stock.

Mike, I see the snap ring at the top and the welded washer at the bottom. What isn't right?

[squonk 41,155]

That top looks a little funky. And did somebody cut threads on the spindle to use that big nut? 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

That bushing is a cub part. Someone probably took a wheel off a cub cadet and put on your wheel horse. That's definitely not a wheel horse part. Throw it as far as you can! What looks like a grease fitting is just about ridiculous.

[krystolo 504]

1 hour ago, squonk said:

That top looks a little funky. And did somebody cut threads on the spindle to use that big nut? 

I don’t know where the nut came from. The spindle doesn’t appear to be threaded. 🤷‍♀️

[krystolo 504]

1 hour ago, The Tuul Crib said:

That bushing is a cub part. Someone probably took a wheel off a cub cadet and put on your wheel horse. That's definitely not a wheel horse part. Throw it as far as you can! What looks like a grease fitting is just about ridiculous.

Agree! Plastic?? It sheared right off in the middle. 

[Pullstart 62,912]

This is a good and tight front end.  The outside of the wheels measures about 33” wide, like my C-160.  The tires are junk, but they can be popped off the wheels.  Let me know what you need, I’m sure I can find something else to hold that old mower deck down!