Two questions

[ideburger]

I was not successful at what I hoped to be a couple of quick fixes on my 861 today. First job was to replace a leaking power steering hose on the right side. What is the best way to access the fittings on the control valve? I considered pulling the hood off but that seems like quite a job. I also thought about removing the throttle rod that blocks view of the fitting and makes getting a wrench on it harder. I was afraid this may get something out of adjustment. Is there a better way?

Second job was to replace the friction disc and friction plate on the hydraulic control lever. It won't budge. I soaked it in PB Blaster and heated it up a bit with propane torch and it is still stuck. Should my next move be a gear puller? I finally gave up for the night after accomplishing nothing. Thanks for any tips.

 

[Soundguy]

the hood is only hard to remove once. after that chanse the threads on the captive nuts and then the bolts.. then never sieze them. then it is a realative breeze after that.

a flar wrench set also helps too.

on the friction disc, a puller MAY work.. but usually just damages the small outter plate.

I'll assume you have takenthe 2 screws out and removed the handle and partially disassembled the quadrant?

the pb oil is good.. so is a lil heat.. but don't get carried away.

next. take 2 small hammers and hit the od of the part 180' out. ie use 1 hammer as packup.. the other hitting.. flat of 2 ballpeens works.. or small maluls / drilling hammers with flat sides. tap like this as much as you can. decent medium hits to swage the metal. lastly.. a wedge like a tie rod seperator or 2 screwrdivers can usually be tapped in crefully to leverage it off. as it passes screwdriver.. try chissle. once it starts moving hit it with more oil and you will have it soon.

clean up both sirfaces and then clena the shaft it goes on with a green scrubby. note.. there IS a key / keyway...

lastly, clean the ID of the part oyu are putting back on to remove corrosion. some 800 paper rolled on a dowell will work. i have taken a dowel and split them and slipepd paper in and chucked into a drill to make a cheap flap mandrel. a lil dab will do ya.. don't OS the hole. clean up debris.. and then lube the shaft and ID with some never seize after you slip the friction cork on.. don't lube the metal to cork to metal friction surfaces with grease or oil.. though a scractch or 2 of candle wax or kids crayon will help prevent scuffing the new cork.

then put nut and spring back on...

 

[Cbrown9064]

You can still get that cast piece that the lever attaches to. What you don't want to do is mess up the control rod, as that is a harder find (a lot harder).

When I was working on my top cover and could not get that cast piece off, I just sacrificed it. Broke it up with a chisel. Cleaned the shaft and installed new friction disc and plate. Coat shaft with anti seize...

 

[ideburger]

Back at it again today and I was much more successful thanks to tbe advice. The power steering hose is replaced after removing the battery and throttle down rod in order to get at the fitting on the control valve.

On to the friction plate. It finally came off by drivine a chisel between it and the quadrant. The reason I was replacing the plate is because I broke the cast piece that holds the bolts for the handle.

Now on to why I broke that piece. When it is below freezing, the contol rod will not move. As soon as it warms up outside it works fine. It was in the teens here today and I pulled the tractor into the garage which was about 45 degrees. Changed out the friction plate and put the handle on. I tried to operate the handle and it wouldnt budge. After fixing the power steering hose everything had a chance to warm up and I tried the handle again. This time it moved but wss fairly stiff. A couple hours of warming up later it moved much easier.

What could the problem be? Something is freezing up, but what?

 

[Cbrown9064]

Probably stiff old grease in the quadrant tube/on control shaft. Take the friction disc handle combo off, undo the 4 bolts holding quadrant assembly to top cover and slide off. Clean up the shaft and put back together.

 

[ideburger]

Probably stiff old grease in the quadrant tube/on control shaft. Take the friction disc handle combo off, undo the 4 bolts holding quadrant assembly to top cover and slide off. Clean up the shaft and put back together.

I think you are probably right cbrown9064. I took out the 4 bolts holding the quadrant assembly and the quadrant was stuck to the shaft. I added a little heat and it loosened right up. I spent an hour trying to get the keyway out so that I could clean up the shaft. I couldn't get it to budge before I ran out of time and had to give up. I sprayed what I could with pb blaster and reassembled. It works good now. I will try to get the shaft cleaned up better when I have more time and less snow. Thanks for your help.

 

[Soundguy]

cleanthe key track too when you put it back together..use some neverseize on it too.

 

[Cbrown9064]

I think you are probably right cbrown9064. I took out the 4 bolts holding the quadrant assembly and the quadrant was stuck to the shaft. I added a little heat and it loosened right up. I spent an hour trying to get the keyway out so that I could clean up the shaft. I couldn't get it to budge before I ran out of time and had to give up. I sprayed what I could with pb blaster and reassembled. It works good now. I will try to get the shaft cleaned up better when I have more time and less snow. Thanks for your help.

Yep, that key was troublesome for me this last summer when I had the top cover off. Chisel, heat, PB Blaster, etc... Just have to keep at it.