[AJD] Model L steering box

[greg at theoldtractorcompany.com]

And leave us not forget, there was a conversion kit available at one time from JD.
So apparently Deere recognized this very same problem and engineered a solution to be 
able to use more commonly available bearings

Don't EVEN ask how much the kits cost, it was insane 15 years ago and still insane 
today. I've often thought about replicating the kit to take care of this problem. I've 
also thought of the bushing-conversion process also. It's just a very irritating 
problem that needs a solution

Greg

if the need arises, I still have 1 NOS steering bearing residing in my desk, where I 
can glance at it from time to time while I await divine inspiration (!)



Greg Stephen
The Old Tractor Company
Stephen Equipment Company
PO Box 709
Franktown, CO 80116
303-663-5246
303-468-0377 FAX<<--GREAT WAY TO REACH ME!

On Tue Jan 16 22:24 , 'Brad' <bloomis at charter.net> sent:

>My latest .02¢.
>I'm working swing this week and dealing with about 50 frozen, burst water
>lines and valves so it will be difficult to get a hold of my branch manager
>at Motion. However I took a print out of John's photo to work and an old
>timer said, go look in the scrap bin at those hubs off John's 57 Chevy. So
>you ask, what the heck are back plates, hubs, drums etc. doing in the scrap
>bin at a winery? Don't ask. Anyway, I found a very similar bearing labeled
>"New Departure" with the number of 909701. I put the calipers to it and it
>isn't close, 1.71 OD, 1.11 ID, and .5 high with one less ball. Doing a
>Google on ND with the part number revealed the first hit as someone looking
>for that exact bearing for a governor on the YTMAG forum from two years ago.
>Just so they know, a wheel bearing from a 57 Chevy is the same. Close in
>style to the L bearing, but not  quite. Same old timer, suggested looking at
>Ford Falcon wheel bearings from the early sixties. Who knows?
>
>I'll still pursue Motion as a possible source. The UHMW idea sounded
>plausible and probably not that hard. We use a lot of it at work. Can be
>purchased from Mc Master Carr in many forms. Machines pretty easily.
>
>This is a fun hunt, well maybe for me since I don't own the poor thing that
>needs the bearings. Heck, my only Deere is still my 20 year old push mower.
>
>Brad Loomis
>San Miguel, CA
>
>-----Original Message-----
>I just  examined the upper bearing race, as this is
>easily removable when the steering box is
>disassembled. I could not find any markings on it. To
>make sure I did not miss anything, I had my wife,
>Kathy, take a good look at it , too, since her
>quilter's eyes are good  at finding small details.
>Nada.
>
>I have never removed one of the lower bearing races as
>this is either pressed into the body of the steering
>box or machined into the box (never examined it that
>closely to determine which).
>
>John Boehm
>Woodland, CA
>Visit my web site at http://vintagetractors.com
>
>
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