Replacing Steering Wheel -Easy?

[DJG]

Hi Guys:
Had a tussle with a dead ash yesterday. It won Round 1. The chainsaw helped me win Round 2. However, I lost my steering wheel in the process (and luckily nothing else). The log, under oressure of being pushed, jumped the FEL and came to rest in my lap. It all happened in a second! Only minor bruises to my knees and my pride, luckily. Anyway, is it easy to install a new steering wheel and do I need any special tools? I'd prefer to avoid hauling my B7800 to the dealer. Thanks in advance.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

#1: Your dang lucky be chatting to us today! That kind of event can ruin ones day, or life!!!

#2: You should be able to just remove the nut and use a pulley puller to pull the hub off the shaft, and replace the wheel. Check for any damage to the column or shaft when to take it apart.

 

[lreops]

#1: Your dang lucky be chatting to us today! That kind of event can ruin ones day, or life!!!

#2: You should be able to just remove the nut and use a pulley puller to pull the hub off the shaft, and replace the wheel. Check for any damage to the column or shaft when to take it apart.

Yeah, what he said, especially #1

Ron

 

[DJG]

Thanks, you guys. Glad to hear it's not too tough a repair. Hope the steering column is ok. Right now I'm driving it with a vice-grip on the nut and it seems to be steering just fine. I don't have a pulley puller buy my neighbor does.
And yes, it was very lucky I avoided a serious injury or worse. I almost, for a minute, thought it might be time to retire my tractor, but instead I've decided to be smarter when dealing with trees, logs & stumps.
Will let you know how the repairs go when I'm done.
Thanks again Wolfman & Ireops.
David

 

[DJG]

Well, the steering wheel cost about $100, got here in a hurry and was easy to install. I've now discovered that the accident tweaked the drive shaft a bit so the wheel moves up and down a bit when turning but doesn't seem to affect the steering.
At least for now, unless I hear differently from you guys, I'm going to not bother trying to fix or bend the shaft back into position trying to correct the "wobble".
Yanking off what was left of the old steering wheel wasn't too tough. Guess getting smacked by the tree trunk loosened up the splines enough.
Thanks again for your advice.
David "Lucky" Gordon

 

[hodge]

I'm a little late to the party, but I will say the same thing- glad that only your tractor was hurt! That was about as close as a person wants to get.

 

[lreops]

Post some photos of what you suspect is bent, and if possible, different shots showing the movement.

Ron

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

If the wobble doesn't bother you then I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[DJG]

I'm a little late to the party, but I will say the same thing- glad that only your tractor was hurt! That was about as close as a person wants to get.

Right you are, Hodge. Way too close. Thanks for your concern. I hope never to have another scary post list this one. Be well, and safe.

 

[DJG]

Post some photos of what you suspect is bent, and if possible, different shots showing the movement.

Ron

Hello Ron:

I think the part that is bent is the shaft that the steering wheel slips onto. To the naked eye, it doesn't look bent, but the steering wheel moves slightly up and down when turned, and a bent shaft seems like the most likely culprit.

I'd need to send a video for you to see anything, and I'm not sure videos can be uploaded to OTT, and even if they can, I"m not sure I could swing it computer-wise.

The steering wheel movement is not that troublesome and I imagine it's an expensive fix. If it's simple and inexpensive to remove the shaft and straighten it, I'd consider it because, of course, I'd like to get my Little Orange Baby back to showroom-like condition.

Thanks for your concern.
David

 

[DJG]

If the wobble doesn't bother you then I wouldn't worry about it.

Wolfman, I'm with you there. If it can be fixed easily and cheaply, I'd give it a try, but otherwise, hey, it works. If the tractor's not perfect, it'll match me.

 

[lreops]

I'm just having difficulty visualizing how a somewhat vertical shaft (from the steering wheel) is showing an up and down movement, which would also be a somewhat vertical, from the shaft being bent. Without knowing what your steering setup is, I was trying to consider that if the steering wheel and shaft were jolted rather smartly (as it does appear), that maybe if your steering column shaft went to a gear box, a slippage of some kind could of occurred, or if your steering column shaft went to some kind of linkage, again some possible slippage. I guess what would clear it up for me is, does the steering wheel go up and down, as in lifting it while not rotating it, or as you are rotating it, it shows the up and down movement.

Just thinking outside the box. When I do this though, sometimes I get lost and can't find my way back.


Ron

 

[chim]

I pictured the edge of the steering wheel doing the up/down movement. Like if you placed a washer on one lug bolt before installing the wheel.

I wouldn't suggest it to the owner, but if it were mine it would be a temptation to grab the wheel and tweak it.

 

[lreops]

I pictured the edge of the steering wheel doing the up/down movement. Like if you placed a washer on one lug bolt before installing the wheel.

I wouldn't suggest it to the owner, but if it were mine it would be a temptation to grab the wheel and tweak it.

OH! You mean "Lopsided"? That could make the picture clearer. The outside edge going up and down = lopsided, Ok.

Ron