I was driving up from the pond last night. The trail is curvy and after a turn to the right it was time for some left but the steering wheel felt like it hit a hard stop. Some quick jiggling and still no left. So I stood on the brake to stop as my Gator careened off into the forest. I got it stopped without hitting anything too big. The wheel turned freely to the right but when turning to the left it immediately felt like hitting a hard stop.
So, I walked back to the house. Got the tractor and dragged the Gator out of the forest and pulled it home with the front wheels off the ground. In the shop there is no visible sign of anything wrong and I can't think of any way a steering box can work perfectly in one direction and lock up instantly in the other. Jack it up. Pull off the wheels. And I'm pounding to get the tie rod out and a little rock hits the floor. It's smaller than a nickel and wedge shaped with that Deere dark gray/black paint on two faces. Son of a.... The only thing I can figure is this rock magically found it's way into the worst possible spot. It allowed the steering to turn in one direction but would perfectly wedge when the wheel was turned the other way.
So, I walked back to the house. Got the tractor and dragged the Gator out of the forest and pulled it home with the front wheels off the ground. In the shop there is no visible sign of anything wrong and I can't think of any way a steering box can work perfectly in one direction and lock up instantly in the other. Jack it up. Pull off the wheels. And I'm pounding to get the tie rod out and a little rock hits the floor. It's smaller than a nickel and wedge shaped with that Deere dark gray/black paint on two faces. Son of a.... The only thing I can figure is this rock magically found it's way into the worst possible spot. It allowed the steering to turn in one direction but would perfectly wedge when the wheel was turned the other way.