Case IH pedal tractor

[w00dsheep]

We're fixing up an old Case IH pedal tractor for my nephew's birthday. It used to be his grandpa's. It's in pretty good shape, but the steering is really hard to turn. We cleaned it and added grease, but it's still too tough for him to use.

Has anyone had this problem before? Any easy ways to make the steering smoother without changing the whole front part?

 

[Sigurd_Hardcourt]

Try adding thin nylon or bronze washers where the steering arms rub. Cuts down friction a lot without altering the look. Cheap trick, but it made my old pedal tractor smooth enough for a 5-year-old to handle.

 

[FarmerFred]

We're fixing up an old Case IH pedal tractor for my nephew's birthday. It used to be his grandpa's. It's in pretty good shape, but the steering is really hard to turn. We cleaned it and added grease, but it's still too tough for him to use.

Has anyone had this problem before? Any easy ways to make the steering smoother without changing the whole front part?

Nice, that's a cool project for your nephew! I second @Sigurd_Hardcourt's idea. Check the thrust washers if that model has them and if they're missing or gunked up, you can usually find replacement kits online for a good price! Another thing to look at is the alignment of the steering wheel shaft down to the axle. Sometimes if it's been bumped around over the years, the brackets can get bent just enough to cause binding. A little bit of gentle persuasion with a wrench might get it back in line! Good luck and hope you finish the restoration in time for his birthday!

 

[JD nc0k3]

@w00dsheep this often happens because over decades, the metal on metal wear creates grooves and binds up.
To fix it, make sure you put a washer above AND below the pivot point on the steering axle.
Using a dab of axle grease (or the general grease you used before) on the surface of those new washers will give you a temporary poor man's bearing effect and dramatically reduce friction. That tractor will steer like new