Wi Ih Posted September 1 Posted September 1 I know the steering wedge is to make it steer easier, but does it make the death wobble worse or better if it’s in there? I’m rebuilding the front end on it and I just wondering if I should remove it being this M already has power steering on it? Quote
Sparky Posted September 1 Posted September 1 It should help with the wobble....as long as you install it correctly. Many people install it backwards. Install it with the thin side to the front. Travis 1 1 Quote
Jeff-C-IL Posted September 1 Posted September 1 I know this is off topic a bit - but I made a real narrow "car dolly" 40 years ago. Just wide enough for the tractor front wheels - with side bars to hold them straight on the dolly. Drive on it, hook up a chain, and tow it. Ended the death wobble issue. Got there faster too. Won't help if you are planning to go on antique tractor rides (although it might be fun to do that just to see what people say....) Quote
Mark (EC,IN) Posted September 2 Posted September 2 Explain to me what this steering wedge is. I just rebuilt the front bolster and steering box on an "M". It wasn't a bad job, but a dirty, greasy job. 1 Quote
MacAR Posted September 2 Posted September 2 Basically, it's this thing: As mentioned, it works just fine if installed correctly and there isn't too much play in the steering. If everything is worn slap out, it doesn't seem to make much difference so might as well just rebuild it. 5 hours ago, Jeff-C-IL said: I know this is off topic a bit - but I made a real narrow "car dolly" 40 years ago. Just wide enough for the tractor front wheels - with side bars to hold them straight on the dolly. Drive on it, hook up a chain, and tow it. Ended the death wobble issue. Got there faster too. Won't help if you are planning to go on antique tractor rides (although it might be fun to do that just to see what people say....) I would like to see this, I know photos aren't possible, but it might be a good way to pull a tractor and a 3pt planter down the road a few miles when needed. Is it possible to pull them down the road faster than 15-20mph? 1 Quote
snoshoe Posted September 2 Posted September 2 1 hour ago, Mark (EC,IN) said: Explain to me what this steering wedge is. I just rebuilt the front bolster and steering box on an "M". It wasn't a bad job, but a dirty, greasy job. Tilts the lower bolster to put positive caster into it. If front tires and pressure match. The weight of the tractor keeps the front wheels straight. When turning letting go of the wheel they should return to center by themselves. Quote
Sparky Posted September 2 Posted September 2 12 hours ago, MacAR said: I would like to see this, I know photos aren't possible, but it might be a good way to pull a tractor and a 3pt planter down the road a few miles when needed. Is it possible to pull them down the road faster than 15-20mph? I'm not sure that would be a great idea. Travis Quote
MacAR Posted September 2 Posted September 2 17 minutes ago, Sparky said: I'm not sure that would be a great idea. Travis I'm not sure it would be either, but then again I have been wrong before.... Quote
bitty Posted September 2 Posted September 2 20 hours ago, Sparky said: It should help with the wobble....as long as you install it correctly. Many people install it backwards. Install it with the thin side to the front. Travis I'd have guessed that it would be the opposite direction. Thin side up front swings the tires forward. I have one on my puller 450 I think. I'll have to look what direction that is Quote
DWV Posted September 2 Posted September 2 13 hours ago, snoshoe said: Tilts the lower bolster to put positive caster into it. If front tires and pressure match. The weight of the tractor keeps the front wheels straight. When turning letting go of the wheel they should return to center by themselves. At one time I would of swore you are correct. Then a engineer old me I was wrong about the caster on a narrow front. He explained that they work more like a grocery cart front wheel when going forward. Not sure what to believe so just throwing this out. Do know the steering wedges were supposed to make steering easier. Caster angle was changed to less caster on the narrow fronts to make them easier starting during 1952. Lower bolsters with a casting suffix through DC are different from there through 450, they have a DD suffix. Tire size can affect caster, and I think the closest to vertical the caster is on a level hard surface the easier to steer. Other settings result in having to add a small effort more to lift front of tractor into effort. In use there is a lot of variables to steering effort. Most wedges had thin part marked to front. Quote
FarmerFixEmUp Posted September 2 Posted September 2 They must have been very popular in the day. A local salvage yard has about 30 of them on a hook on the end of a parts bin. Quote
snoshoe Posted September 2 Posted September 2 1 hour ago, DWV said: At one time I would of swore you are correct. Then a engineer old me I was wrong about the caster on a narrow front. He explained that they work more like a grocery cart front wheel when going forward. Not sure what to believe so just throwing this out. Do know the steering wedges were supposed to make steering easier. Caster angle was changed to less caster on the narrow fronts to make them easier starting during 1952. Lower bolsters with a casting suffix through DC are different from there through 450, they have a DD suffix. Tire size can affect caster, and I think the closest to vertical the caster is on a level hard surface the easier to steer. Other settings result in having to add a small effort more to lift front of tractor into effort. In use there is a lot of variables to steering effort. Most wedges had thin part marked to front. You are absolutely correct about more effort required. The ease was in not fighting back and forth to keep it straight. As far as positive or negative caster. I was always told negative caster was for power steering to put some "feel" into it. Never experimented myself. Quote
snoshoe Posted September 2 Posted September 2 Have noticed positive caster works quite well on a bicycle. Negative caster such as tail wheel on plow or hayrake seem to act like a dog's tail at any speed. Funny you should mention a shopping cart. Can't remember last time I used one that didn't have its own idea of where to go or would wobble or thump. Quote
snoshoe Posted September 2 Posted September 2 I forgot an important point above. With tractor in motion and you turn the wheel inside tire in the turn is the one with the most weight therefore most resistance that helps turn wheel in direction you want to go. With negative caster those forces will be fighting you. Quote
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