Yanmar 2000 Steering shaft

[shawnk1]

I put a brand new steering box on this tractor last summer (less than 15 hours ago). At the very end of my bushhogging today, hit a small stump while turning and POP- steering wheel went loose,lost all steering. what happened was that the bolts from the steering shaft to the box must have been loose- 3 were gone and the one that was left apparently had backed out enough to cause the shaft to let go. The thing was steering like a dream up to this point. Right now the shaft is sitting at a slight angle (bolt holes will not line up or close). Question is how hard is it to realign everything and what do you think the chances are that I damaged something (gear /bearings)?

 

[winston1]

I think a close inspection is going to be necessary. Do you think it possible the bolts stripped or stripped the threads in the housing? Just humor me if you have already seen these instructions and video. If not, they might help you. Yanmar Tractor Steering Shaft Fix

 

[clemsonfor]

My bolts on that housing get loose evry now and then. When you turn the wheel you can feel it shift a bit thats how i know i need to tighten them.

 

[nazbom2]

I had a similar issue with my steering box on my YM2000. The bearings went in it and I had to replace them. I took the steering box off, removed the shaft housing and if I recall was able at that point to separate the shaft from the housing. Once I replaced the bearings I marked teh center of the pivot for the pitman arm then through trial and error replaced the shaft. I then made sure I had the same number of turns both right and left. I'm sure not super scientific but it worked for two years until I could not adjust the play out and finally bought a new box.

 

[shawnk1]

Thanks guys! I just came in from taking the steering box off. Everything internally seems just fine. I've got it put back together-turns nice and smooth. The big issue before putting the box back on the tractor is figuring out how to "fix" the plate for the steering shaft to the main box-the threads for the bolt holes are pretty well stripped. (I've got all four bolts in and two are holding by a couple of threads I guess, the other two don't really tighten.) It doesn't look like there's enough material there to go much deeper. I could go bigger, but if I change the bolt head size much there'll be interfence from the shape of the plate and the bolts won't turn. I wondered about just getting someone to weld the plate to the steering box,but I've heard that most welders won't even attempt to weld cast pieces like this.

 

[winston1]

I'm sure the current bolts are metric. If there is enough meat there to go the next size in inches You could get allen head cap screws like these which take less head room. Shop The Hillman Group 3/8" x 3" Plain Steel Alloy Coarse-Thread Socket Cap Screw Bolt at Lowes.com You could go next size metric either, whatever would work best.