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Cant turn right all the way it skips gear teeth not sure what to do

liljohn said:

Cant turn right all the way it skips gear teeth not sure what to do

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Thinking back a few years the Craftsman mowers made by Murry they had a very poor steering system. Two open gears, small one on the end of the steering shaft that turned a large open gear. It was a poor system and as I remember not too much you could do with them which I never tried anyways. That was the problem when you had really had hard steering the gears would slip pass one another. Just make sure everything is tight is all you can do.

Liljohn,
Can you post the model#,and serial # of the tractor?
A picture of the steering gear would help,also.
Some of them are adjustable,and some aren't.

jhngardner367 said:

Liljohn,
Can you post the model#,and serial # of the tractor?
A picture of the steering gear would help,also.
Some of them are adjustable,and some aren't.

Click to expand...

Model # 917.254622 serial#1119s18617 craftsman 5 spd 12 hp cant remember if its the 36 inch or 38 inch.

I looked it up,on the Sears site,and the steering is NOT adjustable. It has a plastic sector gear(black,wedge-shaped)that is notorious for wearing out.
Unfortunately,that part is no longer available.
Some times it can be shimmed to take up slack,but it's only a temporary fix.

same thing is happening to mine. but i cant turn left. last season i put new bushings in it and now it is doing the same thing wih skipping gears. i was thinking about getting some kind of hose clamp to clamp the gears together but i dont know how it can slide on the shafts on the gears.

Ya i dont have a clue how i can fix it only thing i could see is the washers or spacers on the gear shaft i think if i replace those or add some it might work.

jhngardner367 said:

I looked it up,on the Sears site,and the steering is NOT adjustable. It has a plastic sector gear(black,wedge-shaped)that is notorious for wearing out.
Unfortunately,that part is no longer available.
Some times it can be shimmed to take up slack,but it's only a temporary fix.

Click to expand...

Where is that plastic sector gear

It is metal.

Not the turn left or right problem, but my 2009 Craftsman steering has loosened up like an overworked U Haul. It may be the open gear wear. The "rod ends" seem to be ok. Has anyone determined if the gear teeth are hardened or just mild steel ? If it is the teeth I am tempted to try bronze facing and cut back to improve. Anyone know if the gears are replaceable?

if you plug your model # into sears parts direct i bet they will have the parts on there. but the gear for mine is 30bucks and then the whole steering rod with the gear at the end was like 60! also dont buy it from sears. plug that part number into ebay or amazon and there will be some sort of aftermarket part on there.

Yes, it is metal,Fish. Most of the sector gears were plastic,and my diagram doesn't differentiate.
However,the problem is still the same. They wear out,and most aren't adjustable.
Replaceable,yes, since it makes them more money.
Sears Parts Direct says it's not available,but you might be able to shim it,or use a bushing .

Sorry, I just have never came across any plastic "sector" gears, they would last about 30 minutes...... The metal sector gears with
the plastic bearings/bushings, well that was most of them....

Can you give one part number of a "plastic sector gear"?

Just curious.....

Sorry, I have to throw a "flag" on the play....

metz12, Thanks. Yesterday I looked at the gear and jiggled it with the steering wheel, The whole "I" arm assy seems loose. The diagram shows a common swivel pin/bush. Maybe I gotta go deeper. I know for most this 2004 with 500-700 hrs is expected to die now, but I will try to keep it going . Everything else works ok (where's that wood to knock on?)

I stand corrected, FISH.......it is the shaft support that was plastic. The sector is,indeed metal.