The Fordson Tractor Pages Forum

The steering on my Dexta is very heavy (hard to turn) harder to the left than to the right.

I can tinker with most things and have done all my own vehicle maintenance for the last 50+ years but can make no sense of this.

Its a 62 model, and as part of a gradual restoration I replaced the steering box with what appeared to be a much better water free second hand unit that has a little play but I did not re-build it.
I replaced the top end assembly too as it had the typical worn rusty ball bearings and slack. It all seems to run nicely without weight on the front wheels.
Track rod ends are a little sloppy, new king pin assemblies fitted by someone else but turn freely without weight on them, all greased up, but when driving normally it is horrible, beyond the better halfs capability to drive.

Anyone got any ideas please? Yes, power steering is one answer but there is a fundamental issue to resolve and it is putting unnecessary strain on other parts of the steering.

I am wondering if it is in the kingpin assembly, is something missing to take the downward load of the tractor weight . You would think it would be obvious but I am not finding it so.

Thanks, James

G'day James and welcome to the Board.

It does sound as if the kingpin assy(s) has been rebuilt without the Thrust Bearings installed on the bottom end of the Spindles. Item 15 in this drawing from Parts Book. P/N 957E-3123-B
Note: I've only shown a part of the page, but the drawing in the parts book only shows a thrust bearing on the left stub. Qty of 2 in the parts list. I wonder if it's possible the previous owner thought only the left side should have one????



Regards,
Rick

blastcleaner,

Was this problem evident before you changed the box?? if it was not this heavy then the problem lies within the new box or the way it's been installed.

Regards,

BarryT

BarryT wrote: Was this problem evident before you changed the box?? if it was not this heavy then the problem lies within the new box or the way it's been installed.

Wouldn't be weight dependent, would it?
All the best,
Ben

Try checking the track adjustment if you have greased everything and changed the box. If you look back through the posts there is a picture of the marks to line up on the kingpins.

If the thrust bearings are not fitted correctly or are missing on the stub axles this can give you problems. Tyre size can also make the steering heavier, I have changed the tyres on my Ferguson from 4.00x19 to 6.00x16 to improve steering on the loader but it has actually made it heavier.

My Dexta is very light and positive on the steering. Just like a racing car.

Gentlemen,

Thank you each for your replies.

I think Rick has the solution and a strip down of the king pins and inspection of the thrust bearing (or not) is where I will start, makes sense.

Brians observation on the tracking marks is interesting and certainly worth checking, but I have standard tyres so oversize tyres is not the cause, although having said that one is a different tread pattern, but still a tractor tyre.

Thanks again, I will report back if I find anything interesting.

Regards, Jamie.

Just an update.

Did not really find anything significant, all bearings is good shape so re-assembled and adjusted tracking, also increased tyre pressures. Seems better but heavier than I remember. I will give it a good workout shortly and see how it is then.

Blastcleaner

Thanks for the update. Look forward to hearing how it beds down, as I will be refurbing my front axle shortly.
All the best,
Ben

i had the same problem on one of my tractors, it turned out to be the new kingpin bushes were slightly to big. i filed them out with a round file (it took a while!) and this cured the problem. it could be worth a try?