JD 2130 Loose Steering

[jpkachur]

jp
How are things going in Fort McMurray after the fires in early May?

Things are coming along very slowly and life is kind of returning to normal. I was lucky and didn't have any damage. I feel sorry for the residence of the 2400 homes that were completely destroyed! It's going to be at least 5 years until Fort McMurray fully returns to normal life. The devastation is unbelievable...something that pictures nowhere near capture!

 

[BigDave1755]

Sent to wrong person.

 

[BigDave1755]

I was reading your comments on one of your responses about looseness in a John Deere 2130 Steering. As with that guy I can spin the steering wheel 3/4 of a turn before the arm on the output shaft turns my wheels. If you go down a road very fast the front tires begin to shake violently. I had the bellcrank bushs/brgs on the center of the frt axle completely re-machined and it is tight with no slack. When I had a guy to put a new clutch in it about 9 months ago, I had told him about the steering and when he had it opened up, he built up some welds on the splines of the piece that bolts on to the gear box which turns the steering arm. This took a lot of the slack out but it still had about a 1/4 or more of a round of slack. This was fair for a while and now it has returned to the 3/4 of a turn. I opened it up and the bolt was a little loose which is on the arm that is in the steering box. What I was wondering was? you said that if it wasn't at the bellcrank or to do with the splines that there must be wear in parts keys #1 & 23. I took the steering column off but have not taken it a part. How would I tell if there is wear on these part 1 and 23? Also When it was new, would it have had any slack in it?

 

[jd110]

The design of these power steering units causes it to seem like a lot of play in the steering if turning the wheel back and forth with engine not running. I would say 1/4 tp 1/3 of a turn without engine running is normal. When you steer without engine running, the steering shaft raises up and down before wheels actually turn. When engine is running, the steering shaft still shifts up and down very slightly which opens and closes the valves and high pressure oil is sent to the piston to steer the wheels. When new, there should be very little slack in steering - less than 1/8 turn. In my experience, it has rarely been wear in parts 1 and 23. Usually the play is in bellcrank and splines in steering arm. When it is in the valve assembly, it is usually worn snap rings, valves, or in need of shim adjustment in the valves. You mentioned having splines welded up and improved steering for a while. My guess is that the splines are again getting loose. When those splines get worn it is impossible to keep the bolt tight. I have found the only reliable way to repair is to replaced the cast steering arm and usually the splined shaft as well. A small amount of play in those splines makes a lot of play in the steering wheel.

 

[BigDave1755]

The design of these power steering units causes it to seem like a lot of play in the steering if turning the wheel back and forth with engine not running. I would say 1/4 tp 1/3 of a turn without engine running is normal. When you steer without engine running, the steering shaft raises up and down before wheels actually turn. When engine is running, the steering shaft still shifts up and down very slightly which opens and closes the valves and high pressure oil is sent to the piston to steer the wheels. When new, there should be very little slack in steering - less than 1/8 turn. In my experience, it has rarely been wear in parts 1 and 23. Usually the play is in bellcrank and splines in steering arm. When it is in the valve assembly, it is usually worn snap rings, valves, or in need of shim adjustment in the valves. You mentioned having splines welded up and improved steering for a while. My guess is that the splines are again getting loose. When those splines get worn it is impossible to keep the bolt tight. I have found the only reliable way to repair is to replaced the cast steering arm and usually the splined shaft as well. A small amount of play in those splines makes a lot of play in the steering wheel.

Thanks very much, I felt like I would need to replace the spline things. After I got in from work and looked at the steering column which I have taken out. I haven't pulled the steering wheel of of the column yet. I noticed that the steering wheel itself seemed loose like I will not need to use a puller to get it off. I also noticed that when I turned the steering wheel it rose up and down with the bottom piston out of the column. Is is possible that the lock tab under the main steering nut is rusted away and cause it to be loose and not tight?

 

[DLTTrekkers]

That 5/8 bolt from the side must be very tight ! Like in 3/4 drivesocket and stand on the powerbar tight ! I do not know the torque ?

 

[BigDave1755]

That 5/8 bolt from the side must be very tight ! Like in 3/4 drivesocket and stand on the powerbar tight ! I do not know the torque ?

Thanks very much!

 

[jd110]

It is possible the locking tab being rusted caused the steering wheel nut to come loose, but maybe it was never tightened sufficiently when it was installed also. That nut should be tightened to 100 ft lbs before bending the tabs up. The 5/8 bolt in the steering arm should be a grade 8 bolt and tightened to 240 ft lbs.If it has a grade 5 bolt, replace it with grade 8 and torque.. Then hit the bolt sharply with a heavy hammer and retighten. Repeat this process until it doesn't tighten any further. Usually takes 2 or 3 times retorqueing after hitting with heavy hammer.

 

[BigDave1755]

It is possible the locking tab being rusted caused the steering wheel nut to come loose, but maybe it was never tightened sufficiently when it was installed also. That nut should be tightened to 100 ft lbs before bending the tabs up. The 5/8 bolt in the steering arm should be a grade 8 bolt and tightened to 240 ft lbs.If it has a grade 5 bolt, replace it with grade 8 and torque.. Then hit the bolt sharply with a heavy hammer and retighten. Repeat this process until it doesn't tighten any further. Usually takes 2 or 3 times retorqueing after hitting with heavy hammer.

Wow! Thanks very much!

 

[BigDave1755]

Well folks, After taking the steering coloumn out of the JD 2130. I noticed the the steering wheel it self came up and down a little bit which must be nomal. I used a puller to pull the steering wheel off of the column and all of that was ok. In the parts 27-22 some of the metal shims were bend. I didn't bend them getting them off. There is a space of movement between 32-19. i mean it moves up and down the shaft about an inch. There was no leaking of fluid when I took the steering coloumn off. What do ya'll advise?