Hex Flange Bearing

Remove fuel tank then take off nut at the bottom of the column holding on to the steering wheel while you remove the nut. Then pull up on steering column replace flange grommet and use a lot of grease and then reverse the steps and start mowing.

Deck needs to be disconnected and lowered to get better access to bolt in bottom end of shaft . It was a torx head in my machine. Remove bolt. Removed fuel tank mounting screws and tilt tank to side . Remove steering wheel plastic trim . Remove plastic cap over top of shaft. Remove bolt holding steering wheel to shaft. Remove steering wheel. Pull shaft upwards about half way and tilt to right side of motor and slide out of plastic guide at top. The plastic guide will flex enough to let the shaft slide out. Replace the bottom hex flange bearing. It just sets in a hex cutout in the frame. Install the new shaft . Coat the gear and bottom of shaft with grease. Coat the bottom bolt threads with anti-seize compound. Coat the top spline and steering wheel bolt threads with anti-seize compound. Install bolts and steering wheel plastic covers. Reattach deck. The front of the mower needs to be raised to let the deck drop to make it easier.

1. Open engine cover, after parking with the break on.
2. Remove the mowing deck.
3. Unbolted gas tank, moved to the side, not disconnecting any lines and bracing to keep intact.
4. Visually located the steering shaft location on the engine deck and location under the deck for the end of the shaft. (Here's where you discover a flipping Phillips headed screw. Who puts a freaking non-hex screw on the area where rust, debris and dirt occurs? Forgot to mention, it was not moving, was rusted and nearly stripped out during initial try.) :(
5. Penetrating oil to screw.
6. Tapped with hammer.
7. Grabbed vise grips, and screw driver, yelled for neighbor to come and assist.
8. Neighbor able to turn screw that is secured between the blades of the vice grips, while I hold the steering wheel.
9. After screw removed, went to local store to replace it with hex bolt.
10. Returning to the tractor, lifted the steering wheel up to disengage the steering shaft from the engine mounts and located stripped Hex flange bearing. Discarded it to acceptable recycling.
11. Inserted new Hex Flange bearing, and re-seated the shaft through it. Reengaged the shaft to the proper hole through the tractor decking.
12. Neighbor held steering wheel, inserted the hex bolt on the lower side of the deck and tightened the hex bolt with socket wrench until it was snug and steering was again accurately engaged for action.
13. Re-secured gas tank, mowing deck and checked engine to ensure fuel lines not compromised.
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Remove the screw At the bottom of the steering shaft. there is a washer and I pulled up on the steering shaft 2 remove the bearing replaced with new bearing. Then I had added 2 Fender washers for some reason the steering shaft would still come out of its place in the frame of the tractor so to keep it in place i needed to add the washer's to the bottom of it and now it works perfect.

1 Dropped deck
2 Removed steering wheel
3 Removed phillips screw holding shaft
4 Pulled out shaft
5 Replaced all parts

Found the bearing was worn out. had to pull the cowling off and gas tank to get to it from the top. The mower deck had to come off and then have to lean the unit over to get to the steering gear underneath. Also need a big breaker bar to remove the drive pulley so the belt would go on.

Removed the nut on the steering rod removed the small gear lifted the steering wheel/ rod up remove the hex bolt shin installed new hex bolt installed washer the gear an nut less the 15 minutes the problem was fixed

Easy and direct, but somewhat time consuming. Removed nut holding pinion and removed pinion. Pulled up on steering wheel to remove steering column from lawn tractor. Removed old hex flange bearing. Inserted new hex flange bearing. Restored steering column and wheel (check steering wheel position to ensure proper orientation). Re-attached pinion and nut. Steering repaired.

Positioned the new push cap on end of piece that holds tire assembly and tapped with rubber hammer

Removed gas tank
Removed steering wheel shaft
Removed old steering pinon gear
Removed old hex flange bearing
Then replaced everything in reverse