F16D Steering Noises

[rtimgray]

Hi everybody-

My F16D is making some funny (funny strange - not funny ha-ha) noises from around the "beneath the steering wheel" area. Oddly enough, it happens when I turn the wheel.

It sounds like a grinding/crunching/popping noise. The tractor still steers okay, but there is quite a bit of slop in the steering (about a 1/3 of a turn of the steering wheel before I start getting turning at the front wheels).

I've got a parts manual for my tractor (in Japanese, of course). Looking at the exploded diagram of the steering wheel area, I can see at least a couple of bearings, but I can't tell if there is a steering box or what else is there.

Anybody know the best way to access the steering gear? It looks like I'll either need to remove the fuel tank, the dash panel, or both. Based on the noise I'm hearing, I guessing its a bearing gone bad or a gear box if it has that.

Thanks for the help.

 

[winston1]

Hoyes sight has an excellent video on steering gearbox rebuild. Does not show taking it off the tractor. You could try adjusting your backlash, sounds like bearings gone, but might be worth a try. On my model you do have to remove fuel tank, steering wheel, tach cable, etc. etc. I think it's going to be a common sense thing about whatever won't allow it to come out.:thumbsup:

 

[Kays Supply]

The bearings that follow the steering gear are common to get " crunched". The shaft bearings are not usually the problem. Rebuilding yourself can be challenging if lucky, impossible more than likely. A rebuilt from one of the parts suppliers would be a good idea.