Bob Nakon 55 #1 Posted August 12, 2020 Hi guys, Just bought a C160 started mowing and the left ((from the drivers seat) tie rod fell off. This is an area of these tractors that I am not familiar with. The tie rod has a blind hole at the end and a milled flat. There seems to be a nut and bolt with a cup shaped end. Is there a drawing for this? I tried a search but no joy. Thanks, Bob 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
c-series don 10,146 #2 Posted August 12, 2020 Go to WheelHorsepartsandmore.com they have new ones! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Nakon 55 #3 Posted August 12, 2020 Problem is, I don't know if it's broken or just fell off and needs to be tightened? I can't find a drawing of it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ACman 7,655 #4 Posted August 12, 2020 Bob I might have one you can have. I’ll check tomorrow. Yours is wore out . Can you post a picture of the other end? To get by to move it put the ball back in the socket and wrap some wire around the rod to the nut and threads . Twist the wire tight so it doesn’t come apart. This should just get the tractor steering if you need to move it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Herder 2,355 #5 Posted August 12, 2020 I copied this pic from another link, the upper tie rod is stock and the one below it I was made by another member. I nice job I might add. What has happened to yours is the ball has separated from the socket. You may be able to push them back together and wire tie it temporary until you get a replacement. And no tightening up the nut will not solve your problem. Good luck. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bob Nakon 55 #6 Posted August 13, 2020 Thanks for the response guys. ACman thanks so much for the offer. I called Lowell at wheelhorsepartsandmore as c-series don recommended. He had what I needed and I ordered a new set. I feel like a dummy because it seems like a simple fix but I never looked that closely at the steering before. I'm still learning. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bottjernat1 2,194 #7 Posted August 13, 2020 I just had a friend make mine. cost me $14 for 4 ends off eBay. $0 for me to have them turned and threaded. I help friends out and they help me. Got them painted and mounted lastnight. I need to do a tiny bit of work yet. But they work now. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
arrkerr 54 #8 Posted August 15, 2020 One of my wheel horses that I used for routing chores had a tie rod ball pop out of the socket. While not elegant for a quick fix I used one of those thick rubber bands that come on broccoli at the grocery store stretched around the tie rod and the mount which kept the ball in the socket. I can't tell from the picture, but most of the time thats where they separate. Just normal wear as that ball moves around as you steer, and if you hit a big rock or mow steep slopes as I was it is just added pressure on that thin metal socket. Great suggestions for much more elegant fixes, but in in a pinch when you've got the lawn half-mowed I like the rubber band because it flexes easily but keeps it settled. I'll be honest I went through a few rubber bands over the years but I think I used it like that for more than 5 years. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DBlackston 298 #9 Posted August 15, 2020 On 8/13/2020 at 7:58 AM, bottjernat1 said: I just had a friend make mine. cost me $14 for 4 ends off eBay. $0 for me to have them turned and threaded. I help friends out and they help me. Got them painted and mounted lastnight. I need to do a tiny bit of work yet. But they work now. Link to the product you bought on ebay? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites