[DerickS]

We brought our first JD home and I have a steering question. Its a 1947A with tricycle front(large hubs behind wheels) not sure of anything else about it except that I had to have new bearings put in the top pedastel where the gears meet. The tractor is the hardest steering tractor I have ever driven...is there an adjustment? should I be checking lube levels? is it just the way they are? Any help would be great. it has a bent rim and bad tires but would that effect steering? I'm on the hunt for a rim already and I have some skinnier tires for the front. The main reason I have this tractor is because my 5 year old wanted it and she wants to drive it so I need to make it as easy steering as possible. Thanks for the help

 

[Lovesthedrive]

The steering will be easier when it is moving. Jack up the nose of the tractor and see if it still steers hard with the front tires off the ground. If it still steers hard check the steering box. Some one may have tightened the gears trying to get rid of steering wheel play. If problem goes away after jacking then its a matter of manwell steering.

Let us know what you find out.

 

[DerickS]

The steering will be easier when it is moving. Jack up the nose of the tractor and see if it still steers hard with the front tires off the ground. If it still steers hard check the steering box. Some one may have tightened the gears trying to get rid of steering wheel play. If problem goes away after jacking then its a matter of manwell steering.

Let us know what you find out.

Thanks, I will do that when we go back up two weeks from now...it did have new bearings installed a week ago in the upper end of the box.

 

[clampdaddy]

Try steering a McCormick Deering O-6 from a dead stop and then your jd will feel like it has power steering. :lol: I would try driving the tractor in a straight line then give it some brake on one side, once it turns a little ways release the brake and see if the tractor will straighten itself out. If the steering wheel doesn't free wheel back on its own or with one finger pressure, and the tractor keeps wanting to turn, then something is probably bound up.

 

[Reese92PA]

I second the motion that john deere's steer very hard when still. If you want to turn the steering wheel, you gotta just engage the clutch ever so slightly and it will turn right around. It's a pretty simple setup and I really can't think of anything that could be wrong with it. You said about it having large hubs. I don't know if you're talking about it having a rollamatic or if it's just the side of the flange. I don't think the A's had the rollomatic until at least into the 50's towards the end of production. I have a single front wheel so I can't help you too much...