D17 Hard to steer
Printed From: Unofficial Allis
Category: Allis Chalmers
Forum Name: Farm Equipment
Forum Description: everything about Allis-Chalmers farm equipment
URL: https://www.allischalmers.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=56431
Printed Date: 06 Sep 2025 at 5:56pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 11.10 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: D17 Hard to steer
Posted By: Eric B
Subject: D17 Hard to steer
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2012 at 1:13am
| My Dad's D17 with manual steering is unreasonably hard to steer. My question is to you who may have remedied such a problem as to the best course of action, and where to find the best deals on replacement parts.......Thanks for your input! |
Replies:
Posted By: Orange Blood
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2012 at 1:56am
|
Hey Eric,
What type of front end does it have, Wide or Narrow??? First thing I would do is raise the front end of the ground, and block it properly. Have someone sit on the tractor and steer the wheel back and forth, and look for what binds or moves freely. Since it's manual steer, there isn't much to bind before the rack and pinion, but check the steering shaft were is goes through the bell housing, for free movement, caked on dried grease, also check the u-joint, to see if it is stiff. After that it's either internal to the front pedistal on a narrow front possibly a lower support bearing going out, or on a wide front, it could be a stiff ball joint, or a the drop shaft running down to the tire. Ususally on a D-17 things are kinda worn and loose on the steering, so while the driver moves the wheel back and forth, you should bairly quickly see what is moving and what isn't. Ass far as parts, I go to AGCO for anything internal to the front pedistal, tie rods I get from vendors on this site. ------------- Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7 |
Posted By: Eric B
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2012 at 5:27pm
| Thanks for your detailed answer. It is a wide front end.....we'll do some homework with your recipe, I really appreciate your time in responding. |
Posted By: DrAllis
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2012 at 5:38pm
| Jack up each front wheel and grease each spindle liberally so grease is coming out top and bottom. Remove the grille screen ahead of the radiator and make sure the front support has got oil in it above the gear you can see. I'd use gear oil but any type of oil is better than nothing. Also air up your front tires pretty hard, say 35 to 40 psi. Your perception of steering effort being high, just might simply be the way it is.....that's why 95% of them have factory power steering. |
Posted By: Eric B
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2012 at 12:27am
| Thanks DrAllis, we'll put your ideas to work and hope for some improvements. |
Posted By: dt1050
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2012 at 4:08am
| is this something that just happened or has it been slowly getting worse? |
Posted By: DonDittmar
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2012 at 9:08am
|
Had a D14 that was the same way......nature of the beast
------------- Experience is a fancy name for past mistakes. "Great moments are born from great opportunity" 1968 D15D,1962 D19D Also 1965 Cub Loboy and 1958 JD 720 Diesel Pony Start |
Posted By: Eric B
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2012 at 1:47am
| Dad bought this D17 not very long ago and it was hard to steer from the get-go. My thought by posting here I might find out if this is somewhat common or typical with this model. We have several other A-C's with manual steering that work fine. Thanks again everyone for your time. |
Posted By: Orange Blood
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2012 at 7:49am
Well, any non power steering tractor is not easy to steer. If you add a loader, it's even worse of course. let me ask you this, when moving around the yard, is it fairly easy, or still real stiff. Just siting still it will take some major effort? It also depends on you, and how strong you are. I am a pretty big fairly strong guy, and what I think isn't easy, is just plain impossible for smaller guys, that aren't ripped!  ------------- Still in use: HD7 WC C CA WD 2-WD45 WD45LP WD45D D14 3-D17 D17LP 2-D19D D19LP 190XTD 190XTLP 720 D21 220 7020 7030 7040 7045 3-7060 Projects: 3-U UC 2-G 2-B 2-C CA 7-WC RC WDLP WF D14 D21 210 7045 N7 |
Posted By: Alberta Phil
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2012 at 10:11am
| When I got mu D17 with power steering it steered very hard. I soon found that the top bearing on the steering column just under the steering wheel had gone and allowed the whole column to drop. I replaced the top bearing and now it's fine. |
Posted By: Pat the Plumber CIL
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2012 at 4:53pm
|
Our Ser I D-17 we had back on our farm did not have power steering.Cultivating with the front mounted cultivators would make a man out of you fast ------------- You only need to know 3 things to be a plumber;Crap rolls down hill,Hot is on the left and Don't bite your fingernails 1964 D-17 SIV 3 Pt.WF,1964 D-15 Ser II 3pt.WF ,1960 D-17 SI NF,1956 WD 45 WF. |
Posted By: Gatz in NE
Date Posted: 08 Sep 2012 at 5:16pm
oh man !!
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Pat the Plumber CIL wrote:Posted By: Eric B
Date Posted: 09 Sep 2012 at 12:13am
|