When bad things happen to good WDs

Found myself stuck in the middle of the street today just about to head back up the driveway for another pass of plowing snow with the back blade when I lost steering...

Looked behind me and sure enough there was the bolt that holds the steering shaft to the universal joint sitting there in the road just laughing at me. Managed to finagle that bolt back in, but the nut ran away.  got the bolt in and gingerly got the old girl back up the driveway. The threads are fragged, going to have to get a replacement bolt and nut tomorrow.

While I was working on getting the steering shaft temporarily reconnected, noticed the worm shaft support was not actually connected to the frame. After further inspection, its clear the bolt had broken off long ago and the previous owner just left it that way. For now, the support is just there for the ride.

Going to try to use a reverse screw set to remove the old bolt from the worm shaft support. Any advice or tips on replacing the nut and bolt holding the steering shaft to the universal joint would be greatly appreciated.

No welding gear, but that is a great idea, THANKS. supposed to be a break in the snow for a few days this week. I can remove the universal joint and slide the support right off and have some one weld a bolt on and try that.

Also, the bolt broke clean off on the other side (inner side) of the frame.



Edited by john0030 - 31 Jan 2017 at 10:30pm

John, I think originally from the factory the pin was tapered and pressed into a tapered hole in the shaft. The small end of the tapered pin was then swaged (SP?) over to keep it tight. Check the hole and see if it is tapered. If so, if you just put a straight bolt or pin back in it will still be loose and subject to more wear than a tight fit.   You might be able to get a tapered pin at a good hardware store or at McMaster-Carr. On my WD 45 I noticed the tapered pin was loose and worried about it falling out on the road on a tractor ride. I took the pin out and drilled and tapped into the small end of it so I could add a screw and washer to keep it pulled tight into the tapered hole. I also applied Loc-Tite on the pin and screw when I put it in. I try to remember to check it often, but so far it has not loosened up. Here are pic's of before and after.

45_Steering_Universal_Pin_066.JPG45_Steering_Universal_Pin_067.JPG45_Steering_Universal_Pin_068.JPG

Edited by RickM(MO) - 31 Jan 2017 at 11:35pm

Had that happen with the WD while wide open in road gear. Was glad the brakes worked and were properly adjusted so they worked together I coulda been in deep do-do.  I made a pin and welded it in place. I will worry about how to deal with that if I ever have to. When the WD was done I pulled the WC in the shop and did same thing. Somebody may cuss me some day when those tractors have to come apart but nobody is going to get hurt or killed when the farmer fix bolts fall out either.

Don't use a bolt. A roll pin will hammer in and stay in place. The original was a snug fit pin with the head peened to fill a small chamfer in the U joint. That makes em real har to get out from either direction.

I also used a bolt and nut and applied thread locker.

air hammer and a bit with a point will make short work of factory pin,,,,put it back in the same way,,, I would never put a bolt in they always come loose