Go Bottom

Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
amanda23
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3 Minnesota
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2008-05-20          153806


Hello!

I just had a Cub Cadet 1042 delivered to me yesterday (first one)and I noticed that the steering is about 30 deg off from the direction the front wheels are pointing! It rides fine, but is a little annoying :) Is this an alignment issue? Can I fix this myself?

Thank you!
A




Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153807


Tractors are pretty primitive and there is no such thing as precision alignment. Are you saying the steering wheel spokes are off center when driving straight ahead? If so, you can probably pop the steering wheel off the shaft and reposition it on the splines to get it closer. It's doubtful it will ever be exact. If the machine actually has adjustable tie rods it probably only has one, which would make it nearly impossible to center exactly. ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153808


If the machine has power (hydraulic) steering it will never line up.

With hydraulic steering the steering wheel moves a valve in the form of a shaft which directs fluid power to push the wheels. If you move the steering wheel to full lock (all the way in one direction) with hydraulic steering you will see that the wheel will continue to turn (but slowly) after the steering tires stop.

If that's the case, you can just go to full stop and then 30° beyond, and next time you start the engine and straighten the wheels the steering wheel will be in a different spot.

Best of luck. ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153810


On a garden tractor, it's a cosmetic, not an allignment issue. But appearance items are important; that's a big reason why you buy new. It makes you wonder what else was missed in the pre-delivery. I'd use it just enough to shake out any other problems, then require a free service call to fix that and any other defects. ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
candoarms
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1932 North Dakota
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153812


Amanda23,

I'm guessing that the fella who assembled your tractor probably didn't take the time to position the steering wheel properly before tightening it up.

Most garden tractors are shipped to the dealers unassembled, in crates, in order to save space on the truck. When they arrive at the dealer somebody has to put them together before being sold.

If you purchased your lawn tractor from a discount retailer, do yourself a favor and check everything over. The wheels might not be tightened properly.....the deck might not be perfectly level......etc.

I'm only guessing here -- but unless you purchased your Cub Cadet from a reputable dealer, chances are that some part-time, high school kid assembled it in a dark room, in the back of the store.

Drive your tractor in a straight line up to the garage, then remove the steering wheel and reposition it on the shaft. I doubt that it will ever be perfect, but you should be able to get it a whole lot closer than it is.

Joel ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153814


Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf | view 153808
If the machine has power (hydraulic) steering it will never line up.With hydraulic steering the steering wheel moves a valve in the form of a shaft which directs fluid power to push the wheels. If you move the steering wheel to full lock (all the way in one direction) with hydraulic steering you will see that the wheel will continue to turn (but slowly) after the steering tires stop. If that's the case, you can just go to full stop and then 30° beyond, and next time you start the engine and straighten the wheels the steering wheel will be in a different spot.Best of luck.


And that is why the spinner knobs on this can be a negative. I did not realize how the wheel varies until I did put a spinner knob on tractor with totally hyd steering. kt ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster  View my Photos  Pics

2008-05-20          153821


Quote:
Originally Posted by kthompson | view 153814
I did not realize how the wheel varies until I did put a spinner knob on tractor with totally hyd steering. kt


I made the mistake of telling my gal to turn the wheel full to the left so I could get behind it to do something. I bent in behind the front tire and wondered what the funny noise was, I looked up to see her smiling away and still turning. LOL

But she is good with the weather, and she's catching on to flying a plane pretty quick.

Oh well, you can't win them all...... ;)


Best of luck.



....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo



Steering wheel not in-line with wheels

View my Photos
amanda23
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3 Minnesota
TractorPoint Premium Member -- 5 Tractors = Very Frequent Poster

2008-05-20          153822


Quote:
Originally Posted by candoarms | view 153812
Drive your tractor in a straight line up to the garage, then remove the steering wheel and reposition it on the shaft.I doubt that it will ever be perfect, but you should be able to get it a whole lot closer than it is.Joel


Thanks everyone! I'll try and remove the steering wheel this evening and give it a try (hopefully it won't be too difficult).

A ....


Reply to | Quote Post Reply to PostQuote Reply | Add PhotoAdd Photo


   Go Top


Share This







Member Login