New here and to JD's

[sootman73]

I bought a GT235 with 10 wagon this past weekend to replace the husqvarna box store mower i had bought with our new house. Well that thing was junk and i hated mowing with it.

The Deere is in good mechanical condition just not the best cosmetic, (broken headlight and scuffs, scrapes, scratches, and a nearly bald front tire)

It runs great and mows much faster than the husqvarna.

The question i have is about the steering. It turns really tight one direction but not the other. is this normal or is there an adjustment problem in the steering?

Thanks for your replies!

 

[sootman73]

Also because of this problem i need a new right front tire is its nearly worn out from always turning left.

i think the guy i bought it from went out on to the road to turn around and start next ro

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Welcome.

Do you know how to check the 'tow-in'/'tow-out' of the front end with a tape measurer?

How To Adjust/Check Wheel/Tire Toe Alignment diy w/ tape measure easy and cheap - YouTube

This has got to be the most easy to understand tow-in / tow-out concept video. It will seem long for those who know how to do this but not to most who really care to know this info. I just have a helper and put one end in a groove on the tire and measure to the SAME groove on the other tire.

With a lawn mower this is more simple to do. The tape measure method works well on the farm and big farm trucks, etc where close is FINE.

 

[daugen]

:welcome:

Gale's advice says it all, unless the prior owner ran the mower into a tree or some other immovable object. Then you could have a bent steering rod
that cannot be adjusted out. Pretty unlikely your problem lies anywhere other than up front in the mower, so this is not hard to work on.

I have a similar JD for home mowing and it is the finest thing I've ever owned, for a mower. Fix yours up and it should last a long time.
please let us know you make out.

these folks are nice for tires, but your front tire size is very common and found pretty easily.
Tractor Tires Compact - m. e. MILLER tire
Garden Tractor Turf Tires | Garden Tractor Turf Tires + Wheels | Tires + Wheels | Northern Tool + Equipment
Farm Tires | tractor tires, implement tires at Petes Tire Barn
Stop and Go Tires. Pick Tires by Type

 

[sootman73]

I guess let me give some background on myself, that might change some responses i get.

I have an Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering, was a heavy equipment operator/truck driver/mechanic. I also studied as a co-op at Dana Corporation in gear engineering where we made prototype ring and pinion axle gears.

I am now a project manager for an OEM equipment company based out of Napoleon, OH. We supply to most of the big auto manufacturers in the US, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and a few others.

Hopefully that gives an idea of my understanding of mechanical systems a little better. :laughing:

after a few forums i've been on its nice to know what type of conversation can be had with the OP.:thumbsup:

 

[sootman73]

Let me clear up my original post. My front tires are nice and straight with each other so no toe mis-adjustment. I can turn the wheels harder left than right (steering wheel can make more turns to the left than it can to right).

I'm not sure why this is though i haven't really torn into it.

 

[daugen]

I guess let me give some background on myself, that might change some responses i get.

I have an Associates Degree in Mechanical Engineering, was a heavy equipment operator/truck driver/mechanic. I also studied as a co-op at Dana Corporation in gear engineering where we made prototype ring and pinion axle gears.

I am now a project manager for an OEM equipment company based out of Napoleon, OH. We supply to most of the big auto manufacturers in the US, Brazil, Mexico, Canada and a few others.

Hopefully that gives an idea of my understanding of mechanical systems a little better. :laughing:

after a few forums i've been on its nice to know what type of conversation can be had with the OP.:thumbsup:

Ok, you got us, so you do know which end of the adjustable wrench to use...:thumbsup: good idea
does it feel like something is binding up and getting progressively harder, or just like it's reached an end stop?

and so should we not connect the dots from steering angle to one worn tire???
Have you been able to get it up on a lift and get under there to trace back to the steering tube?
Wonder if it might be something simple like a clump of mud or grass preventing the rack from going far enough in one direction.

 

[sootman73]

Ok, you got us, so you do know which end of the adjustable wrench to use...:thumbsup: good idea
does it feel like something is binding up and getting progressively harder, or just like it's reached an end stop?

and so should we not connect the dots from steering angle to one worn tire???
Have you been able to get it up on a lift and get under there to trace back to the steering tube?
Wonder if it might be something simple like a clump of mud or grass preventing the rack from going far enough in one direction.

It feels like a hard stop in the steering wheel.. it doesn't get progressively. harder just an abrupt stop. ill take a video tonight and upload it to youtube. that oughta help you guys. ill get it up on a stand and see what it does also.

the worn tire i chalk up to the previous owner just turning sharp to the left since it turned best that way.

 

[sootman73]

Here are the pictures I took last night. you can see how much tighter it turns left than right. I put it up on the jack and it turns hard right also. I took a closer look and i think its a combination of worn bearings in wheels and spindles; and worn ball joints all over. I'll probably get some of these parts ordered next week and then see if greasing bearings helps at all before buying new ones.





HERE is the link for the youtube video although it may not be done processing yet.

 

[KennedyDiesel]

The 425,445,455 all turned tighter to the left due to engineering of the steering cylinder system so I would guess this is likely normal.