OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums Repairs and Maintenance Questions On Ride On Mowers Cutters not disengaging on old Greenfield ride on mower

I replaced the PTO on a Cub Cadet earlier this year, then a spindle failed and now the steering quadrant has stripped teeth, they just aren't as tough as the old Greenies, Cox and Rovers

Hi Norm,

I was going to buy a 5hp Rover before this one. But i wanted a little more hp.

That quadrant part in the steering that slides up and down on its pin.
Is it supposed to move approx 2 inches or is it supposed to not move at all?
If its the bush has had it, i probably should replace it ya reckon?

Hi Syd,
Preference is for it not to move up and down. I can't remember what holds the shaft at the bottom, I'm guessing a split pin but It is probably 10 years ago that I rebuilt the one on my mates Greenie. That is another one of those jobs for lifting it up with a chain block or tipping it on its side so you can get at things. I can't remember but if you loosen the bolt on the quadrant you may be able to slide the shaft up through the quadrant. I know I made a new quadrant so not sure what goes on there. I do have an old greenie sitting here so if you strike trouble I could pull it out and have a look.

I stuck me hand under the quadrant pin to see if a nut was missing but couldnt feel anything. Just a bush and the quadrant pin sliding up and down in the bush when i move the steering wheel to the left and right. I cant lift it with a block and tackle, but i do have a trolley jack to have a look under it.

Thanks.

Ok so if you take the quadrant off the pin might slide out through the top or the bottom, then you can see what is going on

The pin on the quadrant is welded on. Im going to take it off to see if theres something to stop it from moving up and down so much, but theres a part with a red wire on it thats stopping the quadrant from sliding out completely. It has a bolt on the top left and another on the bottom.

I knew there was something strange about it but it is so long ago.

Hi Norm,

The pin is welded onto the quadrant. I can see the weld on top of the quadrant without removing it. I cant get it off yet as im waiting for a socket extension to arrive to remove the bolts on the piece with the red wire above it thats stoppig the quadrant from being removed from the top., as i dont have one. I had a cheap little quarter inch socket set from Supercheap auto and i clean snapped it off a while back.

Ok so that is probably why I made a new quadrant and just had it grub screwed to the shaft so it can be easily removed if it has to come out for some reason

Hello Norm,

I removed the quadrant this morning and its just a pin thats welded onto it that slides into the bushing.

Would a new bushing prevent the quadrant pin from moving up and down so much?

Ok that sounds about right, new bushes won't prevent it from going up and down. Does it have a hole drilled through it so a split pin can be fitted. This will stop the up and down movement. If it doesn't hava hole you might have to drill one. From memory that shaft is probably 3/4 inch diameter. If it has a hole in the shaft you will need to pack it with washers to take up any clearance above the split pin

I was thinking the same about drilling the same and putting the split pin in. The washers are a good idea as well. Should have some split pins and washers from my old mans gear. he passed over 17 years ago.

Thanks. Will get back with a pic..

You need at least one washer to protect the split pin or it will get cut off

Hello, Norm,

I drilled a hole in the quadrant pin but require a thinner washer as there's barely any room for it, and the split pin so i just put the pin in for now and will replace it with a thinner washer to protect the split pin from cutting as you've advised. The steering to the left is much improved as it was almost straight with the pin on the quadrant moving almost 2 inches upward when steering to the left.
I jacked up the left side to get better access.

Now will do the wheel turning outwards on both sides and the washers to space the tyres out from the king pins shortly to stop them from rubbing.
.

Very good every bit helps with the steering, they weren't that good from new, and they have had 30 years to get worse. I can check the measurement I used on the stop bolts if you want me to

Hello Norm,

You're correct about the steering.
I haven't given it much thought in regard to the stopper bolts and how and why it works to stop the wheels from turning out 90 degrees, but i know from your advice that its a 10mm drill hole that's 40mm out from the king pins on the flat bar.

Is that from the actual pins or the frame that they're mounted to?

Yes, the bolt length would be much appreciated.

Thanks.

Hi Syd,
Not sure where I got the 40mm from, I just measured the one I did here and if you actually pull the king pin out and measure from the edge of the pin out 30mm and put a 10mm hole there. If you leave the king pin assembled and measure out 20mm from the bottom flat of king pin housing and drill the hole there. As for the length from memory the bolts we used were probably 25mm. I can't remember what they come up against but it does work and stops the wheels from turning too far

So when the bolt is fitted into the 10mm hole drilled, does the thread part of the bolt point up or down?

For some reason I don't think it mattered but I would put the bolt looking up. If you jack the front off the ground so you can turn the wheels back and forth you will see what happens when you turn to the right. I think it hits the bar running across the back that ties the wheels together. I am doing this from memory from a year or so ago but you will see what happens

Hello Norm,

Yes that's what it does. I had a look today whilst turning the wheel and can see whats going on.

I barely have any motivation these days to do anything so your advice makes it a heap easier to get the job done.

Thanks.

Hi Syd,
Yep I am hearing you about the motivation thing these days, but now it is warming up a bit it is easier for me to go to the shed and fix something each day. Sun comes out after the rain and the grass grows and that means you have to cut it and the cycle continues, repair, mow, repeat

Hello Norm,

I plan on doing it this Monday as it will be cooler even though i could do it earlier but i dont go well in any type of heat or cold in general.

Hello Norm,

Drilled 1cm holes on the flat bars approx 2cm out from the king pins and put bolts facing thread up with washers and lock nuts of which i had here. So that's sorted that out.

Thanks very much for your advice.

hi Syd,
glad that sorted that out, fix one bit at a time. At the moment I am working on the steering on a Cub Cadet, and that is not a lot of fun

I dont know why but the tyres aren't rubbing anymore after i did the split pin on the quadrant pin. I cant work it out. And theres no movement on the rims from top to bottom or left to right when i see if they have any play.
So i dont have to do that.

Thanks.

Yes strange things happen like that, one thing has an effect on something else and makes no sense

Hi Norm,

What would cause the old bottom end bearing to be loose in the crankcase of a seventies 2 stroke power torque engine? It can easily be pushed out by hand. I have the piston and rings and will do the crosshatch as well. It has an aluminum deck.

Hi Syd,
Are you sure it is a Powertorque, they didn't come out till the eighties?

Hi Norm,

Yeah i was thinking the same after i posted.
Youre right, its an eighties model but not sure on year.

Hi syd.
the bearing should be a snug fit in the case, if it is loose use some bearing retainer on it but that might cost more than another motor is worth. Or just find another PT motor somewhere, they used to be found on nature strips everywhere. I would have over a hundred here, but trying to post is cost prohibitive