TC40D jammed tilt steering

[RobertN]

I fixed the glow plug timer. Next...

My tilt steering is jammed. The lever is in the what I assume is the down position. It will not move. I do not want to bust the plastic cover on the lever.

Has anyone had success freeing the lever on these tractors?

The telescoping feature works fine.

 

[mroldstyle]

Mine was stuck last year also, dont remember all the details, but I remember putting transmision fluid/acetone mix on the lever and catch (its similar to a storm door closer) letting it soak awhile and tapping occasionally and it loosened up. Now I try to move it occasionally to keep it free.
Goodluck

 

[jinman]

Robert, You will have to remove the cowling below the steering wheel. The tilt mechanism is a small shock that is actuated with a pin at the top. Your lever pushes down on the pin when you raise the lever. I'm sure your pin is rusted/gummed up and won't depress. If you pull your lever up, it will probably push the pin down where it will stick, causing your steering wheel to flop around without locking. You need to apply some penetrating oil directly to the pin to help it get loosened up. At most, you may need to replace the entire shock. That's a little over $100 if it comes to that. I did mine about two years ago.

In the illustration below, you can see the area circled in blue. There is an allen head bolt on each side that can be removed to allow the pin to be exposed. The pin is inside the shock shaft at approximately the location of the red line. You may be successful in getting it loose, or it may bind up. Some people have had fluid leak out around the pin too.

 

[AndyG]

Be glad that it is jammed in one spot. Most of us have had to deal with a wheel that flops back and forth. If the shocl fails you have 2 choices. Replace it with a new one $100+ or make a mechanical set screw adjustment like I did here. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...rating/102539-floppy-tilt-steering-wheel.html

This thing has worked beautifully for over 2 years and I have no worries about it getting stuck or the oil leaking out. I made it out of scrap material.

 

[RobertN]

I finally had time to look at this. I have the left side cowl off. I can cee the cross bolt for the lever(What Jinman circled in blue, in the diagram). So, I'm going to hit the mechanism with penetrating fluid.

The steering wheel moves a little back and forth. I can see that action in the little shock moving a little.

I'd like to make it work, but it is ok where it is at at worst. My wife thinks the position is ok too(she has been using the tractor more than me lately...).

Since I have it at the garage, gonna look at the seat too. It will pivot if you move that lever, but does not more front/back with that respective lever.

 

[RobertN]

Well, 24 hours of soaking with penetrating fluid did not help. Gave the piston end of the lever some gentle taps, but no luck.

How does this assembly work? Does the pin actuate a valve in the hydraulic cylinder that lets the shaft move?

It is comfortable for both my wife and I in the position the steering wheel is in. It would just be nice if everything worked. Of course, we're used to the wheel in that position, so we do not know if it would bee mre comfortable in a different position Guess I'll leave the side panel off for a couple days and keep tapping it, and adding penetrating fluid. I am more concerned about the seat; it is pretty cracked up, especially since from what I can gather, the tractor was stored inside(I have had a a year today; I keep it in a shed).

I did get the seat loose; it moves forward/back now. A couple light taps with a dead-blow hammer worked. Wiped down the rails and put a thin coat of oil on them.

 

[jinman]

Well, 24 hours of soaking with penetrating fluid did not help. Gave the piston end of the lever some gentle taps, but no luck.

How does this assembly work? Does the pin actuate a valve in the hydraulic cylinder that lets the shaft move?

Robert, look at the block where the lever pivots. It has two hex-head bolts, not a pin. You should not have to drive anything out to get that block off. Just remove the two hex-head bolts (one on each side) and the block will come out. When it does, you will see a tiny pin in the middle of the shock plunger. I'm sure that's the pin that is stuck on yours. I suspect you may have to tap it down a bit and work it out and in to get it loosened up. Since your wheel is locked, it MUST be out all the way. If it were stuck in, your steering wheel would be flopping all over the place.

Now, at the bottom of the shock is a pivot pin that has to be taken out with a punch. You need to back that up with a large socket larger than the pin and tap the other side to drive it out of the shock without bending the supporting arms.

 

[RobertN]

Those two hex bolts has surface rust; I started soaking them too. Tomorrow eve... We have a Scout Troop meeting tonite.

 

[RobertN]

I messed with it more this evening. I was able to get the right side set screw/bolt out. But, the left side is not moving. Tried a hex key. Tried a hex socket. Tried the hex socket with a 3/8 drive impact. Tried it with a hand/hammer impact. Tried tapping the from the top and sides. It does not budge. I fear stripping the bolt.

Put it back together and and back in the tractor shed.

The bolt appears to have rust. Since it is recessed in the bracket, it is almost like it is rusted tight. Interesting, because there's no big indication of water around the inside of the covers.

I think the tilt is near center or slightly forward.

Will bring it back to the garage this weekend.

 

[barbqranch]

I haven't had mine apart, so I don't know if this would fit into that location. Try hitting the screw with a pin punch, one that fits inside the allen key hole and bottoms out. A couple of good pops with an 8 oz. or so hammer might do wonders. Also, can you heat it? That can help. Also, and I know this sounds counter productive, but try tightening it. That can sometimes break it loose.

Good luck.