S.O.S.!! Need help with IH 1466 steering and shifter problem

Hello Everyone,
I don't know if anyone can help me, but I would appreciate ANY assistance I could get. I just bought this tractor, and the steering wheel is SO loose it acts like a "Bobble head" it's all over the place. I don't have a repair manual yet, but the problem is SO bad I won't even drive it. Could it possibly be just the "u-joint coupler" just below the steering wheel? Or is the whole shaft and everything going to have to be replaced? Also the inner, or "range shifter" is the same way, it's SO loose it's hard to find the gears, the outer or (speed lever) seems to be ok, can anyone tell me how much trouble I'm looking at in repairing or tightening the "range shifter"? Are parts for the steering and range shifter easily obtainable? I have tried looking for the steering shaft,coupler, etc, and can't locate anything, and the same with parts for the Range shifter assembly. Yes, UNFORTUNATELY it DOES have a cab on it, so I'm afraid that I will have to remove it to fix these items, unless "by the grace of God" someone can tell me a different way of fixing these items. Thank you in advance for your kindness and assistance. I am DESPERATE as I need this tractor ASAP! My email is [email protected], if it would be easier to contact me that way. I REALLY could use some help, PLEASE!!! God bless all.
Sincerely,
Jeff
Cairo, Missouri

First off , you can do all these repairs without taking the cab off even if you have to pull the range transmission cover. You have to start by getting some of the hoods off so you can trace down the shifting mechanism and follow it along all it's joints , connections etc. Depending on what kind of a cab, you might have to loosen it and raise front some for hoods but not likely. You must have tilt steering wheel to have loose steering wheel and that can all be taken care of from above. You might want to look at the CaseIH site and pull up the parts book as they are all free online and lay things out very well.

Hi Pete,
I'm not sure if this has the tilt steering or not, to tell you the truth, it's SO sloppy it you can take the steering wheel and move it in circles, literally. I don't know if this helps but I have the white colored factorey cab, with straight sides, not the red one with the small fender flares that come out over the wheels a little. I have NEVER seen a steering system that has been this loose. And the Range shifter isn't much better. It's VERY hard to find a gear, or range, because it just "flops" around. It seems like there must be pieces missing for the shifter or something of that order. I will try your suggestion about going to the Case IH site and see if I can find out anything. I REALLY appreciate your help and courtesy. God bless, and I am VERY greatful!
Sincerely,
Jeff

i would suggest you go to caseih web site and take a look at parts break down that give you an idea of what you facing,

Steering on my 1466 is loose too and I"ve tightened it up some over the years but still have some work to do on it.

For starters, I had to replace the steering arms as the splines were so worn that it created lots of slop. Secondly, I had to replace the tie rods as these too were worn badly. Combined with the steering arms, those two compounded put a lot of play in the wheels.

My next thing to tackle is replacing the axle pin and ball/socket as I believe these are worn causing the slop.

I"m guessing that my 14 has these issue in the front end (steering) as I run 1000lbs of weight on the front and with the tough field conditions, it puts a beatin" on these components.

Cannot help with the shifter as mine is decent still. My issues are in the transmission brake and TA which will get attention later this year.

Hello, I tried going to the Case/IH website to do just that, but either I'm too blind or too stupid, or both, because all I can find is where to buy the manuals, and they say they don't even have a parts manual for the 1466. So AS USUAL I must be doing something wrong. Could anyone PLEASE send me a link to where this "parts breakdown" is, I would be VERY greatful! I'm just a dumb oldtime farmer who can't use a computer to save my life! Thanks for all the help I REALLY do appreciate it! God bless all!
Sincerely,
Dumbo the Farmer Jeff

Hi, I'm kind of thinking that part of my problem is also similar to yours, as I have a front end loader on it, and the person who had it before me used it to move a LOT of big round bales. But it also seems like the shaft and coupler right below the steering wheel might be part of the problem or culprits also. I'm going to go out tomorrow and see if I can figure out if this thing is supposed to have tilt steering. From what I thought I didn't think they had tilt steering except in the 86 series and later model IH's, but of course, there's NO doubt I could be wrong again! Thanks for the information. Does anyone think it could have anything to do with this hydraulic steering pump? I have found 2 different pumps for this model, I'm SO confused at this point I'm about ready to commit "harry carry", and I probably didn't even spell that right, and probably couldn't do it right either! I'd probably just cut off my foot or something! Gee can anyone tell this is my FIRST IH 1466? I want to thank you ALL SO much for trying to help this old dummy try to figure this out. I REALLY appreciate ALL your time and effort, it's GREATLY appreciated, you're ALL really a bunch of VERY decent and kind people. God bless ALL!
Sincerely,
Jeff the IH "rookie dummy" of the year!

I would just take the tilt steering off if its that bad, and with your shifting look up ihdisgusted.com he has all kinds of fixes at wenzes services for the shifting, did it to dads tractor and you can really feel it click into range now

1. Go to caseih.com
2. Select United States from under North America.
3. Up near the top right, there's a button for "Parts & Service" that when you mouse over it, brings up a menu.
4. Select "Search for Parts" from the menu.
5. At the bottom of the page, there is a line of text that says, "Begin your search for parts RIGHT HERE." Click on RIGHT HERE.

It's retarded. I know. I don't know why they make you have to go through so much crap just to get to the parts manuals.

I must ask, if this tractor was so bad, why did you buy it?

To fix the steering wheel, you will need to remove it, and then the plastic shroud that covers the tilt mechanism. The hole where the steering shaft comes through the tilt mechanism is wore, allowing the wheel to flop around. You'll need to find something to bush it up, as I don't think the bushing is replaceable.

To fix the shifter, you'll need to remove the range cover on the transmission and replace the springs for the detents in there.

Thank you VERY much for the info, I REALLY appreciate it! As to "why" I bought it, the seller absolutely lied and TRIED to pull a fast one, now he has a VERY nice lawsuit to contend with. This guy was NOT too bright, I made SURE I had myself covered, he DIDN'T! My company attorney's are having them for lunch, you might say. He even got his own WIFE into the lawsuit because she is the one on record for receiving payment, I wonder how much longer they will be married? Thanks again for the info and God bless!
Sincerely,
Jeff

Thank you VERY much for that information, I was wondering myself, if I couldn't just get rid of the tilt steering. The covers are all missing anyway, and it sure seems like it would be a LOT cheaper and easier to just do away with it. I had hoped to keep the tractor original, but I don't know if that would detract that much from it's value. I have always wanted one of these and overall it's not that bad a tractor, it runs good, it's just the steering and shifter that are the main problems, I would like to restore it, I like the tractor itself, and think it deserves to have a "new life". Besides then I can keep in touch with all of you GREAT bunch of people too! Thanks SO much! God bless, it's SO nice to know there are SO many decent people out there still. Many Many thanks to all of you!
Sincerely,
Jeff
Cairo, Missouri

Agman,
You do not have to pull the cab off to do this. The platform sections between the pedals unbolts, and will lift out. The range cover is what you will be looking at with the floor gone now remove the required pieces to get the lid off. On the bottom side of the lid is a detent remove the roll pin and replace the detent about a hundred dollars at the dealer this will tighten the problem up with not feeling the shifting. For the slop you will have to look at the linkage and replace what are woren out. Now if this is in litigation why not wait till that is settled or have the dealer do it then recover the cost from this person that way?

Hey Pete,
I have the factory "Deluxe" cab, not the "Custom", and YES, it does have the tilt steering, and guess what, ALL the top pieces are MIA, the shim, shield and cover are ALL gone! I can't call Agco today, being Sunday, but would ANYONE possibly know IF or where I might find these parts used? Thanks again.
Best wishes,
Jeff

Hey Cat guy,
Thanks VERY much for that info. What I'm trying to do is figure out my options, I paid $6250.00 for the tractor, with cab and loader. The seller said it was in "good running, and driving" tractor. My situation is this, I really need the tractor, but right now the tractor really isn't even drivable because of the steering mainly, it's just plain dangerous! What I'm trying to figure out is what it will cost to get this in "good running and operating condition", and what the tractor is worth, etc. and then make the best decision in my favor, as possible. The hour meter says the 5800, but the seller had claimed it had over 6000 hours on it. It seems to run ok, it's a decent looking tractor, except for the driver door that he banged up after he sent me pics of it. and the inside of the cab is trashed to say the least. The outer Pto lever is wired forward for some reason. This whole thing is just maddening because I DO need the tractor, I really DON'T have the time to be having to go to court etc. plus I don't need the added agrivation and stress. But I need to be able to have a tractor I can use and is worth doing whatever is neccessary. It would have been nice if this guy could have just been man enough to be honest in the first place. I have only told you a FRACTION of this whole "fiasco". I kid you not, I think this guy is a habitual liar, I don't even think he knows what "telling the truth" IS, or even CARES! I am a disabled farmer, and this was really the LAST thing I needed. Anyway, I wish I could post a pic of it here so maybe someone could tell me what they think it might be worth, etc. I could sure use the advise, as this is the first IH I have personally owned, and I was SO proud, until I got it! And realized I had been BLATANTLY lied to. Well, I've taken up enough of your time. Thanks again and God bless. I wish I would have bought a tractor from someone on here! You're ALL a great bunch of guys, THANK YOU!
Best wishes,
From a down in the dumps disabled farmer