1965 1010 Special - Steering issues

I had a machine shop make a new steering gear for me in 2012 as it is impossible to find usable steering parts. Now one of the pins is broken yet again and I am fairly confident this will continue to happen repeatedly. This steering system design seems like a major flaw with the 1010. Has anyone done anything to modify this system for the better or to retrofit something to prevent this problem?

As you stated, the steering on a 1010 was a afterthought.  I mean, who in their right mind would run a steering shaft through a gas tank and not a short tank either, then through the darned radiator.  Of course, at least for us when we bought the tractor, that was the last thing on our minds.  We have a 1963 1010 RU.  Power steering-whoa!!  The power steering assist is  located right above the fan on front of motor.  When that started to leak, guess what-oil all over side of tractor and operator.  We began to tear it apart, thinking this is old school, no biggie we can do this.  And as we got into it made me realize their were good drugs available to designers in 1963.  Tare down was rather simple after we drained 11 gals of gas out of gas tank.  Shaft came apart rather easily, and the power steering did to.  We took out radiator and rebuilt that too.  Replaced all hoses, oiled all parts in steering.  feeling good on what we had accomplished, until it came to the steering shaft fittings.  We were unable to connect shaft to short shaft coming off steering wheel.  While trying to make this work, broke tack and cable, took out bushings that keep shaft so it doesn't slide.  Some of this was my fault, thinking it came out of here, why won't it go in.  Long story short, after a month of working on it for 2 hours, getting frustrated, walking away then coming back-we finally got things into position and tractor and us are one again.  I guess moral of story is-use your book and be prepared.

Thanks for sharing your story. We will be better the next time now that we have experience. I have fixed mine again and it now works very well. I am also using the brakes to assist in steering more than I did before. Hopefully this is my last steering repair.

Hi RCJ, I have a 61 RU with power steering. Been through the steering system twice with most of the components in decent shape. The design was attrocious, I've looked at gutting it completely adding a Charlynn valve and a hydraulic cylinder with appropriate mount. Would be great if someone offered a conversion kit. One question I have, how did you go about getting slop out of yours? Did you add any shims behind the thrust pad in the lower housing to take up slop?

My 1010 has only manual steering and nothing to shim. Sorry I can't offer some wisdom.

Do you have the specs you gave to the machine shop? The pins are broken in my 65 1010RU and I would like to get some made as well.
Thank you.

John Deere has pins with updated part number, but price is unbelievable. $144.64 (cdn) each, and 2 required. Yesterday's Tractor has them for 22.50 (US) each.

Hi guys,
Cant believe I found a web site for 1010s!! I restored mine about 20 years ago and it is my main tractor for my small hay operation.

I have been fighting the steering all these years and just can not do it any more.

I am looking for any kind of solution or suggestions you might have.

I stumbled on this site while searching for a used power steering system from a 1010. I have looked at electric power steering motors from late model cars and the char-lynn set ups but there really is no room under the hood for that???

Hope someone has come up with a solution.

Thanks, Bob.

1010RS
Sacramento CA

Here is a link to another forum on steering. The guy on there lists the parts needed. It only uses a hydraulic gear pump / motor attached to the steering wheel and a double ended cylinder. You are basically turning the steering wheel which moves the hydraulic fluid from one side of the cylinder to the other manually. The trick is bleeding the air from the system. I am planning to try this on my 1963 1010 RUS. Just waiting for the "special project" fund account to be able to afford it.

http://www.pulloff.com/phorum/read.php?2,195668,195705#msg-195705

Thanks,
Wayne

Wayne, thanks for that link. I have briefly read through it and not quite sure I understand how it works. I will have to do some more research!
Please let us know how it goes when you get around to doing this. In the mean time I picked up a JD 1020 with power steering to help out. I have some fix-up work to do on it before I start using it.