JD 325, Excessive play in the steering

[arch252]

I recently acquired a 1995 John Deere 325. There is a LOT of play in the steering. This model has manual steering. The shaft goes into a sealed gear box. The gear box has a threaded plug toward the top so I'm assuming it's filled with fluid/lubricant.

Before I start taking things apart looking for worn internal parts, are there any adjustment points that I should know about? Any other suggestions?

 

[arch252]

Figured out my problem. Found the adjustment screw and nut on the side. Took the play out and made a huge improvement. Still steers poorly though, just sloppy. Very hard to keep it in a straight line, a little bump one way or the other and it wants to keep drifting in that direction instead of straightening itself out. Suggestions?

 

[JD318420]

Check the whole front axle out, check the front spindle bushings, check the front pivot bushing/bolt, check the stops for wear.

 

[arch252]

There is a bolt that secures the front axle to the frame, there is a castle nut securing that bolt on the front of the frame behind the muffler. There was a pin in the castle nut but a lot of play in the bolt. I took the pin out and could easily tighten it three more spaces on the castle nut just to get it snug. Not sure if I was supposed to or not. Should there have been that much play, should it be snug or should it be crazy tight?

Unfortunately I can't drive it to see if it made any difference because I have the head off waiting to pick up a new head gasket tomorrow.

All of the other bushings, bearings and linkages look okay, I do not notice any significant play.

 

[JD318420]

You want it just snug, Hopefully when you check for play, yo did try a twist rotation of the axle, That is how you check for play on the pivot/castle.

 

[arch252]

Not sure really, I may have but may not have known it was called twist rotation. I really don't know the proper way to adjust it. I just knew that it was pretty loose so i snuggled it up, it was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a turn. Doesn't sound like much but that's a large bolt.

 

[JD318420]

Did you actually pull and look at the bolt?

 

[arch252]

I did not remove the castle nut, I just snuggled it up and put the pin back in. Not really sure what I would have been looking for.

 

[Glyn Robinson]

i had play in my 320. i removed the front axle and found wear on the pivot pin. i replaced the pin, nut, and the bushings on each end of the axle. helped a lot.

 

[JD318420]

Gouging just below the head of the bolt and further down the shaft, again wear the frame rides on the bolt