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georgiahayfarmer 11-20-2009 09:45:09 74.176.51.135 343928 Report to Moderator	Who here has adjusted steering wobble on a JD 50 manual steer tractor? I see a big nut on the top of the pedestal under the grease cover. Other than adjusting shims on the steer shaft is there any other way to get rid of most of the wobble. My manual is a few counties East so I apologize for the repeat post. Scott [Reply]   [Send Email]
quiltedlumber 11-20-2009 10:54:54 72.43.27.174 343940 Report to Moderator	Re: John Deere 50 Manual steering in reply to georgiahayfarmer, 11-20-2009 09:45:09   Had the same problem, I ended up purchasing a new sector gear and shimmed to tighten up. Unless you replace the steering gear (worm gear on steering shaft) as well it won"t be perfect but I can run wide open in 6th gear and it will not wobble a bit. The trade off was it steers a little harder when making hard turns but much better than the wobble. Hint- buy some gasket material and take your time to cut new shims rather than keep buying from deere, you will need different thicknesses to dial it in - Good luck   [Reply]   [No Email]
Randy G 11-20-2009 10:51:42 71.7.62.188 343939 Report to Moderator	Re: John Deere 50 Manual steering BY JOHN T in reply to georgiahayfarmer, 11-20-2009 09:45:09   JD B Wobble..Front Tires Start with checking the tires,,,,,,,, then the wheel bearings,,,,,,,,then excess horizontal fore n aft end play in the steering shaft (front bearing end cap shims),,,,,,,,then wear in the worm n sector gear (adjusting eccentric bushing). 1) It helps if the front tires are matched in size, style and air pressure. 2) Next, its necessary that BOTH front wheels have their bearings properly adjusted down via removal of the grease cover then setting the preload using the castellation nut and cotter key etc. 3) Next, see if the steering shaft has excess horizontal fore n aft end play??? If so, you may be able to help that by removing the sheet metal (crown/nose cone) and get to the top of the steering pedestal and remove the front steering shaft bearing end cap (2 horizontal bolts) and remove some of the shim gaskets to take up some of the end to end horizontal play. 4) If that all dont help, the eccentric bushing may need adjusted or it or where it fits down into the pedestal simply worn/wollered out. 5) To adjust the eccentric bushing (to move sector gear closer against worm) you have to remove the top grease cover off the pedestal (4 cap screws I believe),,,,,,,,,,,,clean out all the gunk n dirt n grease,,,,,,,,remove the vertical lock set screw in the base of the eccentric bushing (in one of the half moon stops),,,,,,,,,use a bar or drivers etc to rotate the eccentric bushing to move the sector gear over closer against the worm,,,,,,,,,,,replace the vertical lock set screw into another open half moon slot in the base. NOTE AND CAUTION: Since most worm and sector wear is in the straight ahead position, you CAN NOT set them too close together there, or else then its too tight n binds out near the turns ends. 6) I refill the gear box with a witches brew of grease plus 140 or better yet 250 Weight Gear Lube and a lil STP or Lucas additive if I have any handy. Some guys use heavy synthetic gear lube also. Nowwwwwwww if the eccentric is just too worn or the bore it fits into worn out, you may have to have an eccentric mande up or some machine work. Give all this a try n post back your results. Let me know, Good Luck n God Bless. John T Nordhoff in Indiana   [Reply]   [No Email]
georgiahayfarmer 11-20-2009 11:54:31 74.176.51.135 343944 Report to Moderator	Re: John Deere 50 Manual steering BY JOHN T in reply to Randy G, 11-20-2009 10:51:42   I really appreciate the feedback, I am working on a John Deere 50 with manual steering. The top of the pedestal is different than a John Deere B. The basic concept is the same. I do need specifics on what to look for up top under the press fit grease cap. Thank you, Scott   [Reply]   [Send Email]
Mike Aylward 11-20-2009 12:50:41 216.145.134.136 343948 Report to Moderator	Re: John Deere 50 Manual steering BY JOHN T in reply to georgiahayfarmer, 11-20-2009 11:54:31   It"s quite possible you will not need to remove the press in cap. All it is there for is for access to the sector gear. Unless it is worn and needs turned you probably will not have to remove it, although it"s not hard to do if you have to. In addition to checking the wheel bearings and everything "down below" once you have these to your satisfaction you will then to "up top" and you will see that the worm gear is in it"s own housing. Remove the worm gear housing from the pedestal and check the end play in the worm gear. If it is excessive you will remove shims from the front cap to tighten it. You will have to do this first or you will get a false reading on the play in the steering wheel. Check the wear pattern on the sector gear when you have the worm gear housing removed. Once this is done reinstall the worm gear housing being careful to save the gaskets, which are used to shim the worm gear housing to the pedestal. If the free play in the steering wheel is still excessive you can remove one shim at a time until the steering wheel has very little play in it but does not bind. Do not put any kind of sealer on these gaskets. Remove one gasket at a time until you are satisfied with the result. Also, a "farmer fix" to help on front wheel shimmy is to run about 5 lbs. or so less air in the right hand tire. This will cause the tractor front wheels to pull ever so slightly to the right which will keep a good bit of the wobble out of them. Hope this helps. Mike   [Reply]   [No Email]