Author Topic: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!  (Read 6015 times)

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Offline Nkaratzas89

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Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« on: January 28, 2015, 01:51:46 pm »
Hey guys and girls,

My old steering set up is a bit tight and is hard to steer with the engine installed. So now Im looking for alternative set ups that I could build.

I want to stay away from the popular underneath direct set up because Im running a MTD frame with 4" ground clearance. But Ive heard of some simple designs that pop out the side of the frame without a bell crank... Any help would be VERY much appreciated!

Thanks,
Nico
Nico
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Offline BIG AL 202

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #1 on: January 28, 2015, 03:15:18 pm »
EC CARB, HITCH, AND ST. CROIX CHASSIE ALL HAVE SETUPS. COMPLETE OR PARTS TO DO YOUR OWN VERISON.
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Offline cycloneracer

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #2 on: January 28, 2015, 06:30:35 pm »
There is a reason the underneath steering is so poplar. 

Simple, easy, and effective. 

John Deere used a set up like your talking about on some mowers.  It used 2 tie rods.  One to each spindle straddling the engine.  I Think it used a gear drive behind the engine.  I'm not a fan of gear drive on a racing mower. 

I'd just do the underneath seeing this is your first mower.  No need to over complicate it. 

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Offline chavez

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #3 on: January 28, 2015, 06:44:14 pm »
How far do you have to turn your wheel from lock to lock?  Could have some of your linkage working against you if it's setup against your advantage. 
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Offline cycloneracer

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #4 on: January 28, 2015, 08:07:43 pm »
His system was way to fast and complicated.   A good idea but it just won't work that way.  Too long of steering arms. 

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Offline nip 19

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #5 on: January 28, 2015, 08:22:30 pm »
Have you ever seen the push pull setup. It's still direct but nothing under the mower.
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Offline Huffy044

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #6 on: January 29, 2015, 11:22:50 am »
Make sure you understand "Scrub Angle" it attributes to hard steering.

I also have the "push, pull" steering, it does seem to have mechanical advantage, but after two years of running it , Ii have discovered one tiny flaw. If you move your body to either side you tend to drag the steering wheel with you, this happened to me at the end of last season, caused me to wreck as the wheels went full lock. I still like the steering, just something to remember.
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Offline Nkaratzas89

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #7 on: January 29, 2015, 03:46:00 pm »
There is a reason the underneath steering is so poplar. 

Simple, easy, and effective. 

John Deere used a set up like your talking about on some mowers.  It used 2 tie rods.  One to each spindle straddling the engine.  I Think it used a gear drive behind the engine.  I'm not a fan of gear drive on a racing mower. 

I'd just do the underneath seeing this is your first mower.  No need to over complicate it. 




Okay thanks for the input, with the BMI spindles I have, do you think I can weld onto them or would I need to bolt?? I would much rather weld a piman arm off of them but im not sure if I could or can..
Make sure you understand "Scrub Angle" it attributes to hard steering.

I also have the "push, pull" steering, it does seem to have mechanical advantage, but after two years of running it , Ii have discovered one tiny flaw. If you move your body to either side you tend to drag the steering wheel with you, this happened to me at the end of last season, caused me to wreck as the wheels went full lock. I still like the steering, just something to remember.


I have seen the push/pull set ups, some of the super mods that race at our track run them, I might try to do the direct steering route, hopefully without losing too much clearance!! What is the push pull set up like up close and mechanical? Is it set up different than the popular underneath design?
How far do you have to turn your wheel from lock to lock?  Could have some of your linkage working against you if it's setup against your advantage. 

Like what cycloneracer said, its pretty complicated and just wont work on my mower.
EC CARB, HITCH, AND ST. CROIX CHASSIE ALL HAVE SETUPS. COMPLETE OR PARTS TO DO YOUR OWN VERISON.

Great! Whats hitch? Could you leave a link?
Nico
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Offline westcoast racer

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2015, 07:10:02 pm »
Here is a link to some pictures of my steering set up.  It works well.

http://www.heymow.com/index.php?topic=18911.0
Dan Borba

Offline Nkaratzas89

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Re: Steering too tight, Looking for other options!
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2015, 09:51:09 pm »
Here is a link to some pictures of my steering set up.  It works well.

http://www.heymow.com/index.php?topic=18911.0


I really like that design! I think I might just stick with the direct steering set up that so many people use. I would definetly use that in some of my future mowers though!
Nico
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