He Added Power Steering To 1982 Ford 1200 4 By 4 Tractor
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Paul Tannehill, Somerset, Penn.: "I have a 1982 Ford 1200 compact 4 by 4 tractor that is my handiest best buy ever. My only complaint was the lack of power steering. With a front-mounted hydraulic blade, steering could be quite a workout.
"I finally found a simple way to add power steering without adding pumps or hydraulic cylinders. I think the idea would work on other tractors as well.
"The idea involves modifying the steering arm that connects to the steering sector. After examining it closely, I realized there was a lot of travel not utilized from the steering box.
"I jacked up the front end of the tractor just to take the weight off the wheel kingpin. I removed the four bolts that hold the steering arm on the kingpin and shaped and welded a 1/2-in. by 1 1/2-in. by 2 1/2-in. plate to lengthen the steering arm.
"I drilled a new hole and tapered it with a die grinder to fit the tie rod. It's about 2 1/2 in. center-to-center from the original factory hole in the steering arm.
"I plugged the factory hole with a 1/2-in by 1-in. shoulder bolt. Then I welded on a 1/4-in. by 1 3/4-in. by 6 1/2-in. long plate for diagonal bracing from the new extension to the other steering arm.
"I readjusted the tie rod from the steering sector to the new arm extension to have the wheels hit the stop bolts on the axle.
"I went from 2 1/2 turns lock-to-lock on the steering wheel to 3 3/4 turns.
"The down side is more steering wheel revolutions while mowing or brush hogging, but I added a steering wheel spinner to make the wheel easier to turn. It spins so easily now it's definitely worth the inconvenience."
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He Added Power Steering To 1982 Ford 1200 4 By 4 Tractor TRACTORS Modifications 28-4-36 Paul Tannehill, Somerset, Penn.: "I have a 1982 Ford 1200 compact 4 by 4 tractor that is my handiest best buy ever. My only complaint was the lack of power steering. With a front-mounted hydraulic blade, steering could be quite a workout.
"I finally found a simple way to add power steering without adding pumps or hydraulic cylinders. I think the idea would work on other tractors as well.
"The idea involves modifying the steering arm that connects to the steering sector. After examining it closely, I realized there was a lot of travel not utilized from the steering box.
"I jacked up the front end of the tractor just to take the weight off the wheel kingpin. I removed the four bolts that hold the steering arm on the kingpin and shaped and welded a 1/2-in. by 1 1/2-in. by 2 1/2-in. plate to lengthen the steering arm.
"I drilled a new hole and tapered it with a die grinder to fit the tie rod. It's about 2 1/2 in. center-to-center from the original factory hole in the steering arm.
"I plugged the factory hole with a 1/2-in by 1-in. shoulder bolt. Then I welded on a 1/4-in. by 1 3/4-in. by 6 1/2-in. long plate for diagonal bracing from the new extension to the other steering arm.
"I readjusted the tie rod from the steering sector to the new arm extension to have the wheels hit the stop bolts on the axle.
"I went from 2 1/2 turns lock-to-lock on the steering wheel to 3 3/4 turns.
"The down side is more steering wheel revolutions while mowing or brush hogging, but I added a steering wheel spinner to make the wheel easier to turn. It spins so easily now it's definitely worth the inconvenience."
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