| Author | Message | ||
     Bruce Shipp |
My 55 has the axles installed so that the steering arms are biased towards the front of the tractor. Consequently, the outside wheel turns sharper than the inside wheel. This is the opposite of normal steering. Is there something different they do on tractors versus trucks or cars? Or, are my front axles installed on the wrong sides? I didn't really notice a problem until I started using the finish mower and the outside front wheel would cut into the ground due to oversteer. Thanks in advance. Still learning in Texas | ||
| Tom Anderson |
4-13-05 Bruce, Since none of the "pros" have responded to you yet, I feel obligated to tell you what little bit I know. I bought a Shop Service Manual from my local farm supply store years ago. It is by "I & T" shop Manuals by Intertec Publishing of Overland Park Kansas. It covers Oliver and Cockshut from Models from S-55 to 995. It contains a exploded view of the 55-550 front axle system. It talks about Steering Knuckle bushings replacement, but I would think that would solve a "wobble" problem rather than a toe-in problem. It does state that your toe in of front wheels should be 3/16 inch. Do you think that you may have a bent Steering knuckle shaft? I have had mine off before, and it was not too bad. I replaced my bushings and thrust bearings. (I forget why I did, but I remember my thrust bearings were extremely worn.) Hopefully, your axle center member or extentions aren't bent. I thing that I would examine the Steering knuckle shafts and see if one may be bent by comparing the two side carefully. I hope that this will help your thinking or get one the pros to head off any bad advice I may be giving you. Sincerely, Tom Anderson | ||
| Bruce Shipp |
I think I have discovered the source of my steering problems. Thanks to Tom A. who sent copies of the manual, I've determined that the front axles are installed correclty but the right side Pitman arm on the steering gear unit is not. According to the manual, both arms should be angle towards the rear of the tractor. My left arm is correct, but the right arm is angled forward. As this arm moves aft to turn the right front wheel to the left, it causes the right front to turn too much. As it moves forward, the right front doesn't turn enough. I took the nut and lock washer off the pitman arm but couldn't get the arm itself to budge. Are there any secrets to getting this arm off the shaft? I am planning on trying a gear puller next. Thanks. Bruce | ||
| TEXAS OLIVER CONNECTION |
if you can get the bolt out and spread it apart with a chisel or big screwdriver, it should slip right off | ||
| Bruce Shipp |
There is no split that I saw on the pitman arms. I'm talking about the arms below the steering wheel, not the arms on teh axles. Those I had no trouble removing. Thanks. Bruce | ||
| Bruce Shipp |
Well, thanks to Tom Anderson and his kind gesture of sending photocopies of the steering pages from the manual I have solved my steering woes. Looking at the manual pics, it was obvious that niether pitman arm was correctly aligned. The left arm was angled aft but not far enough, and the right arm was actually angled forward. I pulled both arms expecting to simply rotate them aft as much as required. While they are splined, the have four wider splines that act as keys so simply rotating them aft a bit would not work. They can only be rotated in increments of 90 degrees. After a bit of trial and error, I discovered that they had been installed on the wrong sides! Swapped sides and they each keyed into the correct positions. I pulled the drag links, cleaned up the threads so they could easliy be adjusted, re-installed and now she steers like she should without cutting big ruts in my grass. Thanks to all, espcially Tom for the help. Bruce | ||
| bob butkus |
I have a good running super 55 gas for sale with back blade, plow and bucket. I hate to part with it but do not have the need anymore. I used it primarily for road maintenance here in northern WI. Would fire right up in minus 20 degree weather. A real workhorse. |
