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<p>Steve:</p>
<p>The correct response to the steering shaft problem is "Gosh Oh
Hecky-Darn!!"</p>
<p>Mark J</p>
<p>Columbia MO<br>
</p>
<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 7/27/2025 2:11 PM, STEVE ALLEN
wrote:<br>
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<p data-xf-p="1">Gentlemen!</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">Haven't gotten back on the B yet: we went to a
somewhat-local Tractor/Threshing show last weekend, and Son is
off killing Rebs at a Civil War Reenactment this weekend (I
couldn't go because I had to preach today).</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">Anyway, I thought to myself, "Self, you can't let
the Boy have all the fun. Crank up Ol' Reliable and get in a
Tractor Day." Agreeing with myself, I cranked him up and took
the '51 A out to pull some irritating stumps along both sides of
the creek. After three or four, I got down as far as I could in
the bottom without getting in the creek itself to get at one in
the corner between it and the fence. I started to turn around,
and the front wheels must have gotten wedged between some of the
rocks (lots of rocks down there, head-sized and bigger). The
wheels wouldn't turn, so I tugged <em>hard</em>. All of a
sudden, the wheel was spinning freely in my hands, and it was
sliding toward me.</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">Eh, . . . oops.</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">There I am stuck in the lowest part of the creek
bottom, jammed in the rocks, and a merrily spinning a broken
steering shaft. "Shucks and other comments." I tried backing
out using the brakes to turn, but the ground was against me.
Back and forth several times, I managed to turn about 30
degrees More comments.</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">So I trudged back up to the shop, got out some
tools, and pulled the shaft off Big John, the '49 A. Loaded up
the whole mess along with some extra grease (if needed) into one
of the Tahoes, and drove around by road to get back to the
tractor. Swapped out the broken steering shaft for the other
one, checking for any broken parts in the gear box or thrashed
bearings. Everything looked good, but I couldn't get a good
look because of angle and grease. The front wheels were up high
in the air as was the rear end, but the middle of the tractor
was 'way over my head since I was standing in a dip.</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">Cranked Ol' Reliable up and, the steering was
fine. Since I had backed out of the hole, I could turn without
problem. I took the road home so that I could test in 4th gear:
no wobble, only about 3" of steering wheel play in either
direction (manual calls for 2").</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">Now we need a permanent fix (Big John wants his
shaft back, which I understand perfectly).</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">The steering shaft is, surprisingly, a tube.
Reasonably--but not especially-- thick-walled. Talking with a
friend at church today, we conceived an idea: clean up the
broken ends so that they mate and find a steel rod whose OD
matches the ID of the tube. Insert rod, put the two halves
together, and have them welded (don't have a welder but I know a
couple guys who not only do but are pretty proficient).</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">First time I had ever even *heard* of one of thee
shafts breaking. Before I put the welded one back in, I will
clean out all the old grease and make sure the sector gear and
other parts in the top end are in good shape. I will also jack
up the front end to feel how the wheels turn by hand. I *think*
I know what caused the break, but now's the time to
investigate. </p>
<p data-xf-p="1">So, I had a tractor day, but it wasn't all fun
and games. Thank the Lord the parts interchanged, or Old
Reliable would still be down in the creek bottom feeling mighty
put out, and I would be continuing to make comments. *sigh*</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">More news as it breaks (Ouch! That pun was not
intentional), fellows!</p>
<p data-xf-p="1"><br>
</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">The "original" Steve Allen</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">'47 B 207862 (feeling left out of the party)</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">'49 A 641033 (feeling exasperated at having
been robbed)</p>
<p data-xf-p="1">'51 A 670397 (feeling odd with a stranger's
parts in him) </p>
<p data-xf-p="1"><br>
</p>
<br>
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