The balance movement is normal... there is a gap that I also consider normal... the problem is that stopped on the plane I can observe that the vertical axes of the wheels point slightly in opposite directions (front/rear), which leaves the wheels looking drunk.Very rarely happens but part # 67 wear grooves in the and even the hole they sit in can get flogged out oval
The two plates which sandwich # 2 need to be adjusted so # 2 can pivot around the bushes # 67 but not rock as per your diagram or roll as this changes the steering geometry drastically .
The bushes # 67 are supposed to be oiled daily but most are never ever touched
This will be a hell of a good mower by the time you have finished I admire you perseverance
I don't know if I understood what you wrote correctly, but the industry strives to do things to hold you to them and I don't like that... often there's no way.Yes, the sector gear to the fan gear is a wimpy area on lots of the lawn tractors and I've seen several that Bubba and jethro put in the WRONG SIZE plastic bushing. (and them plastic Chima bushings are a jaw dropper at their prices.