Roger9107
New member
My first tractor. I bought a '68 Ford 3000 gasser for hunting camp. I am currently going through it front to rear. Replacing fluids, changing plugs and wires, points and condenser, etc. etc. Runs great, hydraulics good, transmission smooth, but I have concerns about steering.
Two questions:
1) The front wheels, when making a turn on - non power steering- look like they are diving under and almost rolling off the rims. I tightened the bolts on the wheel bearings, greased and pinned them. Front wheels spin well with no wobble. The drag links look like they were fabricobbled out of old water pipe. Neither left or right are straight - left side cut in half and rewelded. I plan on replacing both sides although I am having trouble locating parts, unless I am misreading supplier descriptions. Parts suppliers specifically mention the 3000 for power steering links. The descriptions for regular steering mention 2000 and 4000 with no mention of the 3000. Are the 3000 tubes the same as the 2000 and 4000? I know I should measure them but as I said they are bent and or cut and welded so I am not sure of a correct measurement. Best I can do is approximate.
2) I want to replace the bolts on the front steering arms. There seems to be an assortment of hardware on there now and several are not tight. I can turn some by hand. I bought class 8 nuts, bolts, washers but I cannot find torque specs. I guessing 180 fl/lbs. Does this sound about right. I may be getting ahead of myself. I have a shop manual coming but nothing seems to move fast enough. Thanks for your patients if this topic has already been addressed.
Two questions:
1) The front wheels, when making a turn on - non power steering- look like they are diving under and almost rolling off the rims. I tightened the bolts on the wheel bearings, greased and pinned them. Front wheels spin well with no wobble. The drag links look like they were fabricobbled out of old water pipe. Neither left or right are straight - left side cut in half and rewelded. I plan on replacing both sides although I am having trouble locating parts, unless I am misreading supplier descriptions. Parts suppliers specifically mention the 3000 for power steering links. The descriptions for regular steering mention 2000 and 4000 with no mention of the 3000. Are the 3000 tubes the same as the 2000 and 4000? I know I should measure them but as I said they are bent and or cut and welded so I am not sure of a correct measurement. Best I can do is approximate.
2) I want to replace the bolts on the front steering arms. There seems to be an assortment of hardware on there now and several are not tight. I can turn some by hand. I bought class 8 nuts, bolts, washers but I cannot find torque specs. I guessing 180 fl/lbs. Does this sound about right. I may be getting ahead of myself. I have a shop manual coming but nothing seems to move fast enough. Thanks for your patients if this topic has already been addressed.
