[Rockdog]

Listing for the 1972 44 I purchased off ebay said when steered the unit would kick out of gear. Guy I bought if from said it did it with the loader installed but didnt seem to do it after it was removed. Started tearing into this thing and getting it cleaned up and ready to paint (just rattle can - nothing fancy - and 9$ for per can for the Case paint is crazy and I cant believe I'm paying it) and found the 4 bolts holding the lower steering column and gears in place are missing. Simple enough except the support is about 1/2" or so higher than the through holes in the frame. Can lower it because the black plastic sleeve under the steering wheel has been melted at the top (someone put the heat to it to probably get a steering wheel off?) and is locked in place.

Is this black plastic sleeve supposed to be pressed in place or tight fit? Seems as though it should not be. I'm thinking I can just cut the thing offwhich would allow the entire steering column and gear support to move lower and lign up with the frame holes.

 

[eBoyDog]

From the few I have seen that black column is solid and structural part of the dash. there are plastic bushing to hold the steering rod in place, I suspect that the outer plastic should slide off revealing a metal frame that the the shaft goes in but I have never yet had mine torn down. Check out this in the reference section: http://www.casecoltingersoll.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=135

Hydrv has good guide for steering wheel removal and that might help, can you post a picture or two of what you have?

That make sense then about the knuckle support (is that what's it's called?) missing the four bolts, i'm just not sure why someone would have shortened the steering column, I wonder if the steering wheel shaft length has been shortened and that outer plastic was melted to match the shorter length???

I could see that with the weight of a FEL that a steering wheel/shaft/who knows what, could have been broken and someone made a quick repair. To figure out why a previous owner did something they did, you have step back and try to put yourself in their shoes which sometimes still leave you scratching your head in wonderment and disbelief...

 

[Rockdog]

Looking at the photos in the parts manual I'm thought the steering wheel pushes down on a bushing which is inserted into the top of the steering column support tube which is welded to the tower and the black outer plastic sleeve was just for looks.

But the hardware tends to make me believe the steering wheel pushes against the black sleeve which then pushes against the bushing inserted in the top of the tower tube.

The steering wheel on the tractor is not a Case steering wheel. Its an old GMC wheel. thought I'd just remove the plastic sleeve and use a split ring collar around the shaft to support it for now. Just want to confirm what may be under this melted and ugly sleeve belfore I cut it off.

 

[Hydriv]

I truly hate to beat this point to death but we've gone to a lot of work to put the information you need to solve this problem in the Tech section.

Step ONE. Get the serial number off your tractor's ID plate.

Step TWO - Go the Parts Manual area in the Tech section and locate the correct parts manual for the serial number of your tractor.

Step THREE - Look at the exploded diagrams that depict the entire steering apparatus and the frame to figure out which parts you have are correct and which are not.

My guess is that you will have to begin by removing whatever steering wheel is on the tractor now and then remove the plastic sleeve. I think that you will need a new sleeve, a new steering shaft, a new steering wheel, a new steering wheel cap, a new steering top bushing and a nut to secure the wheel.

There is only one way to repair these tractors and that is "the right way". You have already experienced the problems created by someone repairing them the wrong way. What else is there to say?

Parts manuals, Service Manuals and Operator Manuals are your best friends and that's why we have gone to great lengths to assemble as many as possible on this site. You will not find them elsewhere and that's one reason why this site is the best.

 

[Rockdog]

Hydriv - I read all the manuals and checked as much of the site as appears relavent. Will take a lot of time to get a lot of details on a site. I'd rather know for sure what I need parts-wise before disassembling steering further because it currently works as far as moving the tractor around to work on it. If I take the sleeve off of the column it may render the steering inoperable in that capacity until I find the parts to get it fixed right. Dont think a correct steering wheel is on the top of the priority list at this time if I dont need to make it so.

 

[Hydriv]

Hydriv - I read all the manuals and checked as much of the site as appears relavent. Will take a lot of time to get a lot of details on a site. I'd rather know for sure what I need parts-wise before disassembling steering further because it currently works as far as moving the tractor around to work on it. If I take the sleeve off of the column it may render the steering inoperable in that capacity until I find the parts to get it fixed right. Dont think a correct steering wheel is on the top of the priority list at this time if I dont need to make it so.

Carry on. Excuse me for interfering. :trink: