gear reduction steering while mowing on the 520's

[smoreau 658]

I just had my first drive with my 520 with gear reduction steering with my rebuilt 48" deck. I have to say that I don't like the amount you have to turn the wheel to go around things in the yard. It may be that I am so used to my 417A with standard steering, but when you have to go around a lot of trees, posts, and buildings. I find my self turning hand over hand to get the tractor around what ever I am going around. As for winter with the snow blower up front, I like it a lot. but while mowing, In my opinion, It sucks! its like my hands are constantly going hand over hand all the time. Maybe I just need a speed ball. Any way I just want your guys opinion on this subject.

[redhorse100 4]

hi was that a speed ball you needed? or was that a high ball!! v.o. and ginger for me

[CRE1992 135]

Get a suicide knob for the steering wheel, I had one on my 520H made a big difference.

[decksetter 50]

I'm curious about this too, my 520 has the forward axle but not reduction steering. It turns fast but the steering is SOOO HEAVY with the wide tires and all the weight out front from that big Onan.

[AMC RULES 37,196]

CRE knows the deal...the suicide knob makes all the difference. :thumbs:

[MalMac 1,332]

I have a 520 with the swept Axel and no reduction a 1990 and I have a 1994 with the reduction. I have mowed with both. To me you have to work your a## off with that gear reduction. I know by putting on a spinner knob it will help speed things up but you still have to turn the wheel twice as much. The gear reduction is great with a 60" deck or a 2 stage snowblower or if your using a FEL. Just mowing with it to me is a pain. I know of another member on here that absolutely loves it. So as the old saying goes "To each his own"

[Shuboxlover 480]

Get a suicide knob FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!

If you used a 60" deck instead of the 48" (or 42") you would DEFINITLEY appreciate the steering reduction. I have had one with and one without....it's like dial-up vs. DSL......a 4 banger vs. a V8.....there's just no comparison (when using the larger attachments like the 60" deck or two stage snowblower) I could see though where it might be piontless and where you would deem it unessicary with the 48"er

[546cowboy 302]

I have a 1989 without and a 1991 with gear reduction. I have had a couple more and I use the suicide knob on all of them and the gear reduction is definitely a plus. I just sit in that seat and one hand steer that 1991 and I don't understand how someone can say they don't care for it. I have quite a few trees and stuff to mow around and never had a problem. But as for mowing with trees nothing compares to what I use now. I picked up an older Woods zero turn last spring and that is all I mow with now. I have an acre and a half pasture that I use the 520 on when I need Wheel Horse seat time though. But then again when I feel the need I get on the High Horse just for the fun of riding it around. :laughing-rofl:

[Hydro 131]

We cut an acre and a half every week now. ( If I recall in Craig's terms that's 15/10's of an acre!) I bought the swept front axle and reduction steering to put in my 314, plus some other mods. Yes there is more turning but it is effortless. I never had an issue with the direct steering but as most have said just put a knob on the wheel.

My wife on the other hand loves the steering and if the weather is good will have the grass cut every Friday afternoon. She loves the seat time and the mods on this tractor.

For a very short time I had a JD 265 with a steering box. It was awful by comparison, now that I hated...way more revolutions than the 2 to 1.

[smoreau 658]

Get a suicide knob FOR SURE!!!!!!!!!

If you used a 60" deck instead of the 48" (or 42") you would DEFINITLEY appreciate the steering reduction. I have had one with and one without....it's like dial-up vs. DSL......a 4 banger vs. a V8.....there's just no comparison (when using the larger attachments like the 60" deck or two stage snowblower) I could see though where it might be piontless and where you would deem it unessicary with the 48"er

This is not my regular grass cutting tractor. My 86 417A has a 42" deck with a blower bagger set up and does a very nice job for the time being. But I am looking for a larger home with about 1 1/2 acres, with that in mind I put together a 48" deck and wanted to try it out on some thicker grass. So I put it on my 90 520 that I re-powered with magnum 18. I took it over to my brothers last night where he had some taller grass and it did quite well. Lots of power and love the foot control I got from Matt. But this was my first time cutting grass with the gear reduction steering, and I did not like the amount of turning I had to do. The 48" deck isn't heavy enough to need the reduction, so I think I may need another tractor for this deck. This tractor was put together for my loader that I haven't put on it yet, but I wanted to put some hours on it to see how well it worked. I am happy with it and it worked great! But I noticed how much more I had to turn the wheel to turn the tractor to turn around. it is effortless, but a lot of hand over hand movement. Looks like I will need another 417A for this deck. :thumbs:

[varosd 1,185]

Perhaps a side by side comparision at this years WH show? my 88 520-H doesnt have the swept axel or steering reduction and I would like to try one out

[cheesegrader 433]

I think you would like it much better with a spinner knob.

My '91 520h is set up with the spinner knob, gear reduction, and a '60 deck.

A weapon of mass grass destruction!

[cleat 7,253]

I know this is an old topic but I now can compare the two as I have two 520's

One has the gear reduction steering and a 60" deck.

The other has the standard front end and a 42" deck.

 

I don't really notice the extra turns but can definitely notice the ease in turning. The main difference however is how tight the gear reduction and forward swept axle turns.

 

I can mow around things easier with the gear reduction steering and 60" deck.

 

Also Matt's foot control on the machine with the 60" deck is a major plus. I will be upgrading the other unit.

 

Cleat