You are welcome. Glad you got it going in a straight line again. If you ever have any questions feel free to post them here or shoot me an email that is listed on my main page intro section
Use a Brass bushing with Flange on top. Sometimes you can drill one end of the pinion gear slightly and reverse it so good side meshes with sector. If you change out the sector and have access to a welder, cut some good unworn teeth out and weld to top side of Sector so more meshing of gear at Centre.
I sent you an email requesting advice on my John Deere 190C. I hope you respond, because I truly need assistance. Great videos, by the way! Very helpful and easy to follow instructions.
The pinion gear replacement looks simple enough. It's exposing it to that point. Is there some kind of skid plate on the bottom of the mower that I need to remove?
Let me ask you a question Mower Mike... I am noticing lots of play/looseness on my steering wheel. There is about 1-2 inch slack when trying to turn the steering wheel. The wheels don't engage until after the steering wheel slack is met. Then the wheels work. It does work but just loose. checked all bolts and everything where u are on this vid but can't tighten any more... Any thoughts? also should the bars that go to the front axle move up and down about a half inch wiggle room...
My John Deere x300 has a bad steering gear setup. I'm replacing the sector gear even though it costs nearly three times as much as the sector gear on your machine. The pinion gear on my steering column is not removable. It must be welded on not held in place with a nut. Owners of this x300 machine are required to replace the steering column containing a new pinion gear. The new part costs $165 not the $8 an old-style replacement pinion gear costs. I've repaired broken gear teeth in the past with brazing and grinding new teeth and I think I'll give this a try. Any other suggestions?
Hey there. Sometimes that pinion gear is hard to get off and stuck on there. It is hard to believe that the pinion gear is welded to the shaft, but I don’t have an X300 handy to look at. Sorry I am not much help. Def worth fixing though the x300 is about the best riding mower made.
You can see when the pinion is visibly stripped and will feel it slip gears. If your steering is stiff try greasing the front spindles with a grease gun.
Not even close. The pinion gear WILL NOT MOVE off of the shaft. I yanked on the steering until my arms ached, banged on the shaft from the bottom with a mallet, tried to lever it with screwdriver, channel locks, even got a floor jack under it. But it doesn't move. I can't get it to move even a millimeter from where the nut was holding it in place. I guess I'm screwed.
@@MowerMike I managed to move it some with persistent hammer. Of course that ended up messing up the threads on the shaft. In the end, I could not get the gear all the way off. I found a used shaft on ebays, so I'm going to just cut it off above the gear with an angle grinder and hopefully the replacement works.
@@MowerMike LOL Try sweatin' in this Tennessee humidity! ...and by the way, if it weren't for us Tennessee boys there would be no Texas! Remember the Alamo! LOL
Thanks for the quick video. Helping my neighbor diagnose intermittent steering on his Deere mower and I suspect this is exactly his problem!
Excellent! Always good to help a neighbors mower issue. Well done
Thank you kind sir! These videos are so cool for us poor backyard mechanics! Not even from Appalachia! 😊
Haha glad I can help. Nothing wrong with being a backyard mechanic gettin’r done with a Walmart socket set.
Your video saved me $400 shop repair...thank you!
Excellent news!
Thank you sooooo much... widow here left with old equipment and lil money thank you 2 thumbs up !!!
You are welcome. Glad you got it going in a straight line again. If you ever have any questions feel free to post them here or shoot me an email that is listed on my main page intro section
Great video. Thank you very much.
Thanks glad it helped
Use a Brass bushing with Flange on top. Sometimes you can drill one end of the pinion gear slightly and reverse it so good side meshes with sector. If you change out the sector and have access to a welder, cut some good unworn teeth out and weld to top side of Sector so more meshing of gear at Centre.
I sent you an email requesting advice on my John Deere 190C. I hope you respond, because I truly need assistance. Great videos, by the way! Very helpful and easy to follow instructions.
I responded, good luck!
These views are wonderful especially for anon mechanic 😅
Glad it helps
I put antisieze inside on pinion gear..,,,,so it somes out easy...also put it on blade bolts...makes the job easier..
Good call Chuck
The pinion gear replacement looks simple enough. It's exposing it to that point. Is there some kind of skid plate on the bottom of the mower that I need to remove?
Nope the pinion gear nut is just hanging down there. Take a look under your mower and you will see it
I WISH MINE WOULD BREAK LOOSE THAT DAMN EASY AND I DO LIVE IN APPALACHIA
Just get a bigger hammer my man! Glad to have some hill folks on board!!
Gracias Gracias Gracias...I LOVE U. THANKS 4 U VIDEOS....SALU2 FROM COMANCHE TEXAS
De Nada!
Let me ask you a question Mower Mike... I am noticing lots of play/looseness on my steering wheel. There is about 1-2 inch slack when trying to turn the steering wheel. The wheels don't engage until after the steering wheel slack is met. Then the wheels work. It does work but just loose. checked all bolts and everything where u are on this vid but can't tighten any more... Any thoughts? also should the bars that go to the front axle move up and down about a half inch wiggle room...
Yep is normal the steering setup on riding mowers is really loose and cheesy. They are cheaply made
My John Deere x300 has a bad steering gear setup. I'm replacing the sector gear even though it costs nearly three times as much as the sector gear on your machine. The pinion gear on my steering column is not removable. It must be welded on not held in place with a nut. Owners of this x300 machine are required to replace the steering column containing a new pinion gear. The new part costs $165 not the $8 an old-style replacement pinion gear costs. I've repaired broken gear teeth in the past with brazing and grinding new teeth and I think I'll give this a try. Any other suggestions?
Hey there. Sometimes that pinion gear is hard to get off and stuck on there. It is hard to believe that the pinion gear is welded to the shaft, but I don’t have an X300 handy to look at. Sorry I am not much help. Def worth fixing though the x300 is about the best riding mower made.
How do I know if the pinion gear is bad? My issue is the steering is really stiff, and i noticed its starting to scar the gear
You can see when the pinion is visibly stripped and will feel it slip gears. If your steering is stiff try greasing the front spindles with a grease gun.
@@MowerMike Thankyou! I think that is why Im getting scars. I told my wife not to drive it until I addressed it
Actually the whole steering shaft is almost locked
Grease King Pin/Spindles and install Torrington flat needle bearings under Axle boss.
Nope my pinion gear is froze on there
Back nut off but keep it on the shaft and then wack the piss out of the end of the shaft and see if you can get it to break off. They can be a bear
Heat on one side with Propane Torch.
Not even close. The pinion gear WILL NOT MOVE off of the shaft. I yanked on the steering until my arms ached, banged on the shaft from the bottom with a mallet, tried to lever it with screwdriver, channel locks, even got a floor jack under it. But it doesn't move. I can't get it to move even a millimeter from where the nut was holding it in place. I guess I'm screwed.
Youch that sucks. Maybe take it to a shop where they can put some heat on it.
@@MowerMike I managed to move it some with persistent hammer. Of course that ended up messing up the threads on the shaft. In the end, I could not get the gear all the way off.
I found a used shaft on ebays, so I'm going to just cut it off above the gear with an angle grinder and hopefully the replacement works.
Apply heat with propane torch to 1 side of the gear. Get it really hot then try removal.
An Appalachian Hill Billy would change that without removing the deck, using a 1/2" air ratchet. ; )
As a Texas Treebilly I have to disagree. There is no way to get an air ratchet on that thing with the deck on.
@@MowerMike
Wrong pal , I just did it on a 145. Jack the front up , lower the deck all the way , nothing to it . Never underestimate a Hillbilly.
@@anthonymclaughlin1837 Haha will have to show me how it is done some day.
What's so bad about a shade tree mechanic from Appalachia? We are people too, ya know!
Haha I meant that as a compliment. I am the same thing just sweat more in the Texas heat.
@@MowerMike LOL Try sweatin' in this Tennessee humidity! ...and by the way, if it weren't for us Tennessee boys there would be no Texas! Remember the Alamo! LOL
@@MowerMike Thank you for the pinion gear vid bro! That made it EASY!