Outdoor Power Equipment and Small Engines - 42" Craftsman Mower steering gears worn

I have a 19.5 HP 42" Lawn Tractor, Model #917.270821 and I got excellent advice here on the carb last year - engine is currently running great.

I read the post regarding steering problems with the minor fix

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=362126&highlight=sears+tractor+steering

I do have the pre-1999 clip ring version. When I steer left the steering jumps gear teeth and it looks like the large sector gear is worn and the shaft gear looks like it has wear where it impacts the sector gear. I think I'm in the category that Cheese noted in the link of having waited too long. The sector gear clearly looks worn enough to replace and I guess I'll replace the shaft gear. I'm pretty sure more shim washers arent going to be a long term solution. There isn't enough play to remove the gears, once I pull the clip ring. Does the U bracket need to be removed from below? I couldn't find the screw on the bottom of the support shaft to tighten because it's too tight to get a screw driver in there.

My parts list so far:

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=156546&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000017&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly


http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=136874&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000027&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

Should I get the following parts also? :

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=57079&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000018&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=124035X&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000019&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=126684X&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000020&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=71200410&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000022&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

TIA

It looks like this thread has my answers:

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=343122&highlight=craftsman+steering

edit:

I think maybe I'll go with the whole steering assembly:

http://www.searspartsdirect.com/partsdirect/displayPartDetailAction.action?partNumber=156594&productGroupId=0071&supplierId=917&brandId=x&documentId=P8080196&keySuffixId=NA&modelNumber=x&keyId=000062&pageId=00004&productTypeId=x&searchModelNumber=917270821&backToLink=Return%20to%20part%20list&subCompDesc=Steering%20assembly

done.

Only trick was that the replacement steering assembly u bracket was the post 1990 design which did not have threads in the holes, so I made a run to the hardware store to get bolts, washers, nuts.

Put grease into the 4 fittings in the front axles and wheels and pumped air in to the tires (14#s) after I read Cheese's reply in another post.

Feels like it has power steering now.

That's great. On many of these setups, the old bolts are special self tapping type bolts, they are usually tapered at the ends with kinda a triangular shape to the bolt. They will cut their own threads into the metal plate, but bolts with nuts work just as well. :thumbup:

Great! Glad you found helpful info here!