790 2WD steering question

sixdogs · Mar 3, 2008

I am looking at a used 790 2WD with only 150 hours. It'a at a dealer and I have not run it yet because of the following discovery.
The steering is very sloppy and loose. It must be six inches lock-to-lock on the steering wheel. It is manual steering.
Anyone have any ideas about this or own one? I would be interested but not if I have a problem like this that I do not understand

gordon21 · Mar 3, 2008

Are you sure you even want to consider 2WD? I can't remember how many times I would have gotten stuck without those two extra wheels helping. But then again, I have some steep ground.

I can't help with the steering question. Does it have power steering? That will make a difference. There is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the steering arms, tie rod, etc

Mech · Mar 3, 2008

sixdogs said:
I am looking at a used 790 2WD with only 150 hours. It'a at a dealer and I have not run it yet because of the following discovery.
The steering is very sloppy and loose. It must be six inches lock-to-lock on the steering wheel. It is manual steering.
Anyone have any ideas about this or own one? I would be interested but not if I have a problem like this that I do not understand

My 790 is a 4WD with PS. I did have manual steering Yanmar (the 790 is a Yanmar design) and my steering box had a broken bearing and I had that kind of play. It is a pain to get the steering box out. You can adjust with a screw on the right side but with that kind of play I would assume something is broken.

dirt ditch · Mar 3, 2008

My 790 operators manual troubleshooting guide says:

Excessive play in steering. See you John Deere Dealer

Is it at a John Deere Dealer where they could possibly fix it before you bought it, or at least tell you what it would cost to fix it. If it is not a John Deere dealer, could you contact a John Deere dealer and ask what could be wrong.

If I had to guess without seeing, it would be something is worn out in the steering box.

sixdogs · Mar 3, 2008

Have others that are MFWD so no problem. Just looking for a tractor I can set up with cultivators and a side-dress unit to use as a dedicated sweet corn fertilizer unit with narrow rows. Can't do that with MFWD.
I don't want an HC model and this would only be used when dry and warm. Will never get stuck. Just don't want to spend a lot for this limited use.
I think I'll skip this tractor.