MTD steering wheel-stuck on!

[NSpooner]

So I just bought a '99 MTD Yard Machines 20 hp 46" that is in pretty good shape but the steering was kind of messed up and the end of the steering shaft was chewed up. No biggie, got all of that apart but I can't get the dang steering wheel off so I can pull the steering shaft out. I obviously took the center nut off and pulled like crazy but it wouldn't budge. Also when I got the steering shaft loose I had someone hold the steering wheel and I screwed the center nut back in a few turns and gave it some good smacks with a dead blow but it's just not budging. I'm about to the point to pricing a new steering wheel and if it's cheap I will just cut the steering shaft in half and toss the whole thing haha! Help!

-Nick

 

[Lawnranger]

I have a 2005 Troy-Bilt (MTD) and maybe they changed things but on mine I took off the bolt at the opposite end of the steering wheel, down by the steering gear and the whole shaft pulled out of the steering column. The bronze bushing was worn out to the point that the two gears would not even mesh and needed replacing. I realize yours may be different but did you try that?

Is there a center bolt holding the steering wheel on under a cap or cover? Are there two drilled and tapped holes in the steering wheel on either side of the steering shaft like an automobile? If so, you can use a steering wheel puller to remove the steering wheel and many auto parts stores will lend you the puller for free with just a small refundable deposit.

Find the IPL and look to see what else could be holding the steering wheel on.

 

[twinfords]

i am sure you have locked at your parts diagram? there may be a clip holding the wheel on the shaft as well, if not a clip, it may be rusted.

 

[NSpooner]

Yep I have looked at the parts diagram and it does show some sort of bracket but there is nothing like that on the mower but everything else is right. I tried to get the bolt off the bottom but it's not wanting to come off and I don't want to strip it as it's a phillips screw for some reason instead of a normal bolt. Even if I could get it off the gear at the bottom is not removable from what I can tell so I couldn't pull it out anyways.

The cap was missing from the steering wheel too so there was some rust on the bolt. I used some penetrating oil and let it sit the last couple of nights but still nothing. I priced the steering wheel and it's $60 so I would prefer to not have to buy another haha! I did think about cutting the shaft in half anyways because I could then put it between two blocks of wood or in a vice and hammer it out that way. These are never threaded on are they? In one of the diagrams in my owners manual the drawing looks like it's threaded but in the directions on how to install the wheel when it's new it just says to place the wheel over the shaft and install the bolt.

 

[NSpooner]

Here is a link to the parts diagram:

Outdoor Power Equipment Parts: Use the Part Finder Tool from MTD

 

[Carscw]

The bottom bolt should be a star

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

 

[NSpooner]

The bottom bolt should be a star

Sent from my iPhone using LMF

Nope it was a philips. I ended up just cutting the thing in half and hammering out the shaft from the steering wheel. New one will be in tomrrow.