straightening tires

[tractorleo]

The person who I got my little riding mower from most likely crashed into trees with it so the tires are bent outward. I was trying to use a 2 ton jack to bend the steering rod to shorten it but it kept falling off. is there any way to shorten the tire rod for the front tires without a hydraulic press?

 

[Turbys_1700]

Heat and pressure...

 

[CincyFlyer]

Take off the rods, clamp in that huge vise that's mounted to your solid workbench, and grab a piece of pipe.

 

[/pine]

cut and weld it back...maybe make a clamping jig that will crimp a V in the rod...

Good Luck...

 

[oldnslo]

Do the tie rod ends adjust on this model? Has something else bent? Like Turbos stated, get metal red hot and it moves easier but could also make it weaker depending on the type of steel used.

 

[CobyRupert]

The person who I got my little riding mower from most likely crashed into trees with it so the tires are bent outward. I was trying to use a 2 ton jack to bend the steering rod to shorten it but it kept falling off. is there any way to shorten the tire rod for the front tires without a hydraulic press?

So the tie rod is on the front of the axle?

Trying to imagine how crashing the front makes the tie rod longer and the tires bend outward..?

 

[1stDeuce]

You might check the bushings in the spindle for wear too... They let the tires camber out (bottom of the tire relaxes out, top tips in...) and that tends to cause toe out.

Usually tie rods are adjustable, but if the tractor is REALLY cheap, they might not be... You might find it possible to bend the steering arms a little to get your tires back in alignment... Or perhaps one is bent, causing the toe out...

A few pictures would be helpful...

 

[showcattle]

I have a little John Deere 155 lawn tractor. My youngest son was out mowing and came back to the house saying the tractor wouldn't steer. I went out and the front tires are pointing east and west, instead of north and south. I said, "What did you hit?". Normal teen response, "Nothing." Well, the tie rods are non adjustable. I took them off, heated them with O/A torch, and put bigger bends in them to bring the tires straight. It's been three years, and all is still good.

 

[CincyFlyer]

So the tie rod is on the front of the axle?

Trying to imagine how crashing the front makes the tie rod longer and the tires bend outward..?

You can snag something with the tie rods and they will bend back, splaying the wheels.