T5C axle pin design

Alan7s · Jun 8, 2014

Does anyone happen to know why Terramite uses the axle pin design to hold the front plate on which the steering cylinder and the front wheels are mounted?
Mine keeps coming loose even though the castle nuts are held in place by the bolts as intended. I thought about welding the axle pin to the
frame permanently and then securing the front plate by the castle nut, but figured there must be a reason why the company does it the way they do.
Thanks

Alexhasson · Jun 9, 2014

if the hardware is worn it may have too much play and allows it to loosen.

Alan7s · Jun 9, 2014

Alexhasson said:
if the hardware is worn it may have too much play and allows it to loosen.

There is quite a bit of play in the steering gear. Is it OK to tighten the nuts on those connections? I see they all have cotter pins so they must
need to have some slack, but seems like they are too loose.

Alexhasson · Jun 9, 2014

Is there a washer missing under the crown nut?

Alan7s · Jun 10, 2014

Alexhasson said:
Is there a washer missing under the crown nut?

None of them have washers. I tightened them up several turns which took out some of the slop;
Do they use crown nuts because these ball joints are supposed to turn? Otherwise lock washers
would tighten things up.

Alexhasson · Jun 10, 2014

Alan7s said:
None of them have washers. I tightened them up several turns which took out some of the slop;
Do they use crown nuts because these ball joints are supposed to turn? Otherwise lock washers
would tighten things up.

I'm on my phone so not sure how to link it but I googled an exploded diagram of your tractor steering and you should do the same and compare parts. Make sure a previous owner didn't do anything. My t315 doesn't have any slop

Alan7s · Jun 10, 2014

Alexhasson said:
I'm on my phone so not sure how to link it but I googled an exploded diagram of your tractor steering and you should do the same and compare parts. Make sure a previous owner didn't do anything. My t315 doesn't have any slop

Wow! I did some work with the machine this afternoon, and couldn't believe the change - and quiet; no clank bang bang, and when you
steer, it just turns smoothly. Sure do appreciate the folks on this forum reading and coming to the rescue with advice and tips. But
glad to hear any other comments whenever anyone discovers this and has anything to add. There's a lot I don't know about why things
are designed as they are, so open to info . . . .thanks again.