Re: Front wheel shimmy - SMTA

Posted by john d on January 07, 2002 at 18:15:35 from (64.12.106.26):

In Reply to: Front wheel shimmy - SMTA posted by Tom Fanning on January 07, 2002 at 14:01:33:

Before you start replacing bushing in that front pedestal, check for all the simple fixes first! If the universal joint replacement helped a lot, the pedestal bushings may not be a big part of the problem. Accumulated movement in several places may be the most of the cause.

Do as Red suggests and jack up the front for a check, and while you're at it, run first one front tire, then the other up on a 4" block and shake the wheel that's in mid-air. Bad wheel bearings can be a source of this trouble.

You mention that the tractor has power steering. One of the first casualties of the steering system on old Farmalls, particularly with power steering, is the little ball bearing at the top front side of the gearbox on the front steering pedestal. It's easy to replace, and pretty inexpensive. If it's bad, you'll have problems no matter what else you fix! If the gearbox on the upper end of the pedestal is out of lubricant, then the possibility of bad pedestal bushings increases pretty fast. If the gear lube is gone, plan on putting in new gears!

Next to the universal you replaced is a support bearing. It's a rather anemic part, compared to the rest of the tractor. If that support bearing wasn't greased regularly through the life of the tractor, it may be part of the problem.

There are two common types of power steering on these old tractors. The Behlen type has a big actuator unit over the gas tank. They're ugly, but they work well. I've got a 52 SM with one of those on it, and I had to fabricate a couple of braces that run from the light bar to the channel frames at the rear of the engine to brace the steering wheel pedestal so it wouldn't shake around under some conditions. The front wheels on mine didn't shimmy, but the steering wheel wouldn't hold still, and caused the front end to "wander" somewhat.

If you end up replacing the front pedestal bushings, be absolutely certain the tractor is blocked up well and the brakes are set so it can't move - ANY!
Good luck!

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