How many degrees are we talking - of turning the wheel from one point where it moves the tires in one direction - to the other side where it starts to move them in the opposite direction?
If you're talking up to about 15 degrees I think it's fine. There's always going to bve SOME slop. Over that and you can start trying to tighten things up.
That normally doesn't require new gears.
If your wheel bearings are good, your tie rods are tight - the next thing to check is where the sector shaft comes down and the steering arm clamps to it.
Have somebody turn the wheel back and forth a bit while you watch it. I think there are two different styles of how it attaches - but on mine it's a square shaft end that fits into a square clamp end of the steering arm.
That's a weak spot - if they're not solid, that's going to give you probably at least 60% of your slop right there. (still need to do surgery to fix it though)
I've tried shims, but I'm now thinking a better solution is needed. Thinking of building up the shaft and grinding to the proper dimension - maybe over the winter.
Another third of the slop will be fixed with new bushings and bearings (depending on how bad they are).
Then the rest will come from wear on the sector gears - but I really think you'll find it's not worth the money/effort to replace them. Fix those other items and you'll feel like you're driving a sports car. 15 degrees of slop is virtually unoticeable once you start driving.
Side note - on mine the whole axle was loose on the pivot pin the axle had actually cracked at the tube the pin goes through. That was obviously dangerous - but I didn't realize it was there - and it did add to the overall looseness of my steering - check that area well - don't know if it's common or not.
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Today's Featured Article - Talk of the Town: How to Remove a Broken Bolt - by Staff. Another neat discussion from the Tractor Talk Discussion Forum. The discussion started out with the following post: "I have an aluminum steering gear housing with a bolt broken off in it. The bolt is about a 3/8" x 1 1/2" bolt. I've already drilled the center of the bolt out with about 7/64" drill bit the entire length of the bolt. Only one end of the bolt is visible. I tried to use an easy out but it wasn't budging and I didn't want t
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