"Poor Man's Power Steering" on a John Deere L118 (4K)

[@keithjohanson4157]

The look of approval by the dog was a nice touch. Great video.

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Keith - 'preciate that!

[@richard9800]

You can't fool me. The dog supervised that video. good job!

[@RonBurkett]

Ha! You caught me! - Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@patrickpage3891]

I'm a retired mechanic and I enjoyed watching you

[@RonBurkett]

Well I appreciate that! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@MrALEG213]

Just ordered mine. Can't wait to put them on in the coming weeks 😊

[@RonBurkett]

Good deal - I hope they work well for you. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@allenmarshall9061]

You did one of the best “poor man’s power steering videos”. You had an aerial view near the end of you mowing. No has that. Well written script. No blocked shots. No noise from traffic or other equipment operating. You really have taken care of your 18 year old John Deere.

[@RonBurkett]

Hey thanks, Allen! I appreciate your kind remarks.

[@dr.thrashfinger4915]

Great idea! I wish I'd have seen this a few weeks ago, before I replaced and upgraded my spindles and bushings with roller bearings on my LA 175. I would've saved myself some time.

[@RonBurkett]

Thanks, I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@Shuffler703]

Take care of that John Deere cause the new ones are going down in quality. Great looking dog you have there. Well done video!

[@RonBurkett]

'preciate that!

[@denali9449]

Great video - simple and to the point. No frills except for Pearl and she is more than welcome in my book! Going to have to give this a try on an X series mower.

[@RonBurkett]

Thank you! I appreciate you watching and commenting, good luck with your mower!

[@danyerdon8494]

Thank you for this. My twenty year old LA 145 needs this upgrade.

[@RonBurkett]

You're welcome Dan! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@thurm101]

I couldn’t do it on my rider. But I did change out the wheel bushings to ball bearings on the front wheels. That made a huge difference. Real easy as well.

[@RonBurkett]

Thanks for the info!

[@dawnmassey8925]

Liked your direct and easy to follow instructions.

[@RonBurkett]

Thank you - and thanks for watching and commenting.

[@elrobo3568]

Thanks, I ordered these for my L100.

[@RonBurkett]

Cool! I hope they work well for you - thanks for watching and commenting.

[@youmbgtube]

Nice video. I just completed this mod as well as wheel bearings. I only have a 1/3 acre lot and my S130 is only a year old and I couldn’t believe the wear on the front axles. JD must want us to replace the expensive axle once it’s out of warranty. Glad I found yours and others mod help on YT.

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Mike! Thanks, man. I just bought an S130 last week. The frame broke on my L118 (video coming eventually). I'm considering doing the wheel bearing upgrade on the S130 also.

[@youmbgtube]

@@RonBurkett great! The axle spindle has plenty of room for the two washers and needle bearing - like it was designed for them.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

Gonna check my new JD S110 to see if this will fit. Ive gone thru the steering gear and lubricated it but feel it could still be better. Looks lime this will be nice for my old 612 deutz allis also! Im off to order some goodies when this is over !

[@RonBurkett]

Great - hope it works well for both applications!

[@saltwateranglin]

Hey thanks pal! Did it to mine just now. A note for some folks…on some the top thick factory washer rides up to the clip opening after installing all that extra hardware. Instead of trying to fine a thin washer to make the clip fit, I took a thin blade to my grinder and shaved off a 1/16th inch from the top of the pivot housing. Took all but 10 min and it fits fine. The plastic debris caps fit better with the thick factory washer. Now I am set to change the needle bearings easily when they self destruct (and they will as thin and cheap as they are). It’s not like the power steering on my Kubota tractor but its 30% smoother.

[@RonBurkett]

Great! Thanks for watching and commenting and the extra info that might be helpful to some folks.

[@cannon440]

Yesterday I installed them on my 1973 JD-140. No noticeable difference. Not a waste of time, I did repack the wheel bearings & spindle.

[@NGGPeter]

Same. Did this mod years ago and had no noticeable difference at all.

[@cup_and_cone]

I just did this to my TroyBilt Pony 42. I can notice a difference, but it's nowhere near as drastic as people say it is. I mostly wanted to do this for when the vehicle is almost stopped at low speed, as I have to maneuver my mower into a tight shed at low speed, and that's when the wheel is the heaviest.

[@RonBurkett]

I agree - probably most noticable at low speeds - thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ericpigg2689]

This is a great time to change the plastic axle bushings as well. Chances are they are worn and will eventually cause the tires to run untrue causing uneven wear.

[@landerskuboushek6831]

Didn’t know I needed this tell seeing your video. I run the 44” blower on mine in the winter and I think this will make a big difference with all that weight out front.

[@RonBurkett]

I hope it works well for you. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@fishsizzle83]

Got that great Dad/Grandpa vibe! Subscribed!

[@RonBurkett]

Ha! Thanks! I appreciate the sub!

[@fishsizzle83]

@@RonBurkett No, Mr. Rob thank you. Been dealing with my la145 for over 14 years now and been through four of those bottom gear and steering plates now! This last one I made last pretty long because every three rides I get under there and grease it. But this will definitely help out! Looking forward to your vids.

[@knifetrain3118]

I’m going to try this out on my John Deere but to be honest I clicked on the thumb nail to see Pearl! 🐶

[@RonBurkett]

Ha! I hope it works well for you - and I sure Pearl is flattered! Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@carlpavey7167]

Does it make a big difference? Wondering if it’s worth doing

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Carl - I don't know that I could say it makes a "big" difference - but it is very inexpensive and easy to do, so it might be worth a go even if you only notice a small improvement. Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@ClockFixer]

Just did my LA130, AND also put new needle wheel bearings in !

[@RonBurkett]

Cool! I hope it works well for you!

[@alfredsuarezfontanez5765]

I agree with the other comments on the quality of the video, sound and editing.

[@RonBurkett]

I appreciate that!

[@flierbill]

55 seconds in. I was sold !

[@RonBurkett]

Thanks, Bill!

[@dennisg.7498]

Is that a poor man's front bumper anti rattle device I see on the front?

[@RonBurkett]

Well, not sure what a "anti rattle device" is, but this an accessory I bought along with the mower. Just a regular John Deere front bumper. www.mymromarts.com/single-bar-front-bumper-bm23056-compatible-with-john-deere-x300-x304-x320-x324-x330-x340-x350-x360-x370-x380-x384-x390-x394-x500-x520-x530-x570-x350r.html?currency=USD&variant=mymro060014&Google+Shopping&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjw0MexBhD3ARIsAEI3WHLjl_k61g9OZWHcsyLDAO4sRifBTfii6pWadL-Q5G6SPFNVmuaM7o8aApnLEALw_wcB

[@larrywitmer3394]

Dose the beariing face down on the shaft

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Larry, as far as I can tell, the bearing has no "up" or "down" - it is the same either way.

[@gordbaker896]

I did this on my John Deere X320. Amazon $8.50. My JD Dealer wanted $73.00 plus tax! On my Spindles there is a 1/2" thick plastic bushing at the bottom of the King pin. I noticed NO difference in steering effort. That Mower looks like it had never been greased. Check your front end carefully If it has that Plastic bushing, don't bother.

[@mattstiffler8385]

Could you forward me the setup you have hooked up to raise the mower front end? That looks nice and simple!

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Matt! Thanks for watching and commenting - Well, you are right, it is pretty simple - it's just a "come along" winch connected to some webbing tied to a board connected to the floor joists overhead. Then, a piece of webbing tied in a loop and slung around the bumper of the mower.

[@mattstiffler8385]

@@RonBurkett that’s genius! You should make a video on making that. It’d save those of us looking for a mower jack tons of money!

[@ericpigg2689]

Look into the Harbor Freight chain hoist. If you have a place to attach it to the ceiling securely, they are great and a real back saver. I caught mine on sale for less than $100.

[@michaelhouy1382]

😮​@@RonBurkett I have a G110 that has no front bumper to hook onto. Where else would be safe to hook onto for the front end lift without damaging anything? I subscribed also and will be ordering the needle bearings. Good idea!

[@RonBurkett]

@@michaelhouy1382 Hey Michael, thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing! Y'know, I looked and I couldn't really find a good place to hook onto if there is no bumper. You might have to jack it up from the bottom and put it on blocks. Sorry I don't have a better answer for you.

[@jimr4566]

Was not enough clear space to add the bearings on my craftsman 54" riding mower.

[@RonBurkett]

Sorry to hear it won't work for your mower - but thanks for watching and commenting.

[@gordbaker896]

Simply grind off the top of the Axle beam 1/8".

[@easyrider4649]

I own a John Deere LA105 John Deere... guessing it is 100 series like yours. I clicked on the link to the bearings set but has 4 different sizes to choose from. What size did you get ?

[@RonBurkett]

I used the 20mm bore size. Thanks for watching and good luck with your mower!

[@easyrider4649]

@@RonBurkett .. Thanks for your speedy reply. I just order it and suppose to be here tomorrow.. After 3 years since you installed it, you still notice some improvement in the ease of steering ?

[@RonBurkett]

@@easyrider4649 I hope your modification goes well. I think there is a misunderstanding - I just did this a couple of months ago - not 3 years.

[@easyrider4649]

@@RonBurkett .. Oops ! My bad, for some reason 3 years pop in my head for no reason. HAHA ! I checked and it says you uploaded the video 4 weeks ago. I was wayyyyyyyyyyy off .. LOL

[@RonBurkett]

@@easyrider4649 Hey, no problem!

[@Patty-w5s]

Good job. Also nice doggie!! Db I’ll order. The parts NOW! Db

[@RonBurkett]

Hey thanks! Yeah, she's a pretty good girl. I hope your project goes well!

[@marvinjohnson2463]

Installed couldn’t tell any difference in steering.

[@RonBurkett]

I guess the efficacy varies between users. Thanks for watching and commenting.

[@brucemacdonald4672]

You could have released the steering connector from your shaft,then it would have dropped out by itself.

[@RonBurkett]

Thanks for the tip, Bruce!

[@gerardlunow567]

Welllll, It must have been many years that a grease gun was used. Mine fell out as soon as I pulled the C-clip. The dust caps make a difference too. :) I wish it had a better steering box, like a real one....

[@RonBurkett]

@@gerardlunow567 You are correct, I had been derelict in my greasing duties.

[@gerardlunow567]

@@RonBurkett I did sand of a mm of the housing to have the c-clip have a little play. It is nice to improve what you have and be respectful to your assets.

[@stuartashworth1866]

Just clamp a knob on the steering wheel.

[@shannonbrooks8834]

This guy is a little behind. Already video showing this.

[@RonBurkett]

Hey Shannon - you are correct - in fact, there are several videos showing this procedure, some of them a few years old. In fact, I even mention in my video that this is a popular modification. I just wanted to show it on my specific mower in case someone has the same model. Maybe I showed something another video didn't, or maybe you could see a shot clearer on this video than another. I know if I'm trying to learn about something, I'll watch several different videos of the same process. Anyway, thanks for your attention to detail. I appreciate you commenting.

[@lancehughes4132]

OMG Buddy....so like why then did you watch his ? lol.