Can anybody tell from the photo below if my steering plate needs to be replaced? (I think the teeth in the center look shorter and the gaps look wider than the ones on the end; but, I'd like a second, more experienced opinion before I tackle the task.)
This is from a GT1554. The steering as been sloppy for a few years. Last week, it started slipping, so I replaced the pinion gear and bushing. That fixed the slipping, but I can still turn the wheel quite a ways before the steering "catches". Looking underneath, there is still a lot of play between the pinion and the plate, even though the new bushing is holding the steering shaft in place. Does it look like a new steering plate will fix this sloppiness, or is that just a limitation of the mower that I should live with?
If I do replace the steering plate, should I get the $65 one from Cub Cadet, or will the $25 ones on Amazon be almost as good
This is from a GT1554. The steering as been sloppy for a few years. Last week, it started slipping, so I replaced the pinion gear and bushing. That fixed the slipping, but I can still turn the wheel quite a ways before the steering "catches". Looking underneath, there is still a lot of play between the pinion and the plate, even though the new bushing is holding the steering shaft in place. Does it look like a new steering plate will fix this sloppiness, or is that just a limitation of the mower that I should live with?
If I do replace the steering plate, should I get the $65 one from Cub Cadet, or will the $25 ones on Amazon be almost as good