Power Steering Installed On Super “A” Farmall
FARM SHOW readers often use our stories as inspiration for ideas of their own, and that’s exactly what happened when a story about a simple way to add electric power steering to a Farmall B was read by the “Tractor Doctor” (Vo. 41, No. 5). He’s a tractor mechanic with nearly 50 years experience and a writer for Red Power and Green Magazines. The FARM SHOW article spurred him to install power steering on a Farmall Super A, much to the delight of his wife, who uses the tractor for mowing.
The Tractor Doctor (he prefers to remain anonymous) says his power steering unit takes up less than 12 in. in the A’s steering shaft. He says any vintage tractor with a similar amount of exposed steering shaft and a 12-volt negative ground electrical system would work for the adaptation.
He mounted the electric steering unit (ESU) to a custom-made base plate that’s bolted to the tractor’s bell housing, with two upright supports. Both of the support shafts have bushings and grease fittings. The original bracket, which was used on the automobile it was removed from, also holds the ESU. The Tractor Doctor says this type of mounting reduces side thrust while allowing movement on the two shafts.
Three electrical terminals connect the steering to the 12-volt electrical system. One is for the module input, one for the 12-volt power input, and another for power to the steering motor. An extension of the bell housing mounting plate holds the module terminal connector, the control box, and the potentiometer. The unit also uses a 12-volt switched input wire that connects to the potentiometer.
The Tractor Doctor says the installation works exceptionally well on the A with the dial set about half way up the power range. Adding more power tends to oversteer, he says.
The Tractor Doctor advises anyone adding a system like this to install restrictor diodes on the steering module input wire, or alternately use a generator or alternator with a conventional voltage regulator. All connections should be soldered and shrink-wrapped.
Cost of the whole installation for the Tractor Doctor was less than $200, a worthwhile investment he says to keep his wife happier while mowing the lawn. He sells plans and instructions including contact information for the needed control module kit. It’s available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope and $10 cash to the address below.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, The Tractor Doctor, 4880 West 9th Street Road, Oshkosh, Wis. 54904.
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Power Steering Installed On Super “A” Farmall TRACTORS Miscellaneous FARM SHOW readers often use our stories as inspiration for ideas of their own and that’s exactly what happened when a story about a simple way to add electric power steering to a Farmall B was read by the “Tractor Doctor” Vo 41 No 5 He’s a tractor mechanic with nearly 50 years experience and a writer for Red Power and Green Magazines The FARM SHOW article spurred him to install power steering on a Farmall Super A much to the delight of his wife who uses the tractor for mowing The Tractor Doctor he prefers to remain anonymous says his power steering unit takes up less than 12 in in the A’s steering shaft He says any vintage tractor with a similar amount of exposed steering shaft and a 12-volt negative ground electrical system would work for the adaptation He mounted the electric steering unit ESU to a custom-made base plate that’s bolted to the tractor’s bell housing with two upright supports Both of the support shafts have bushings and grease fittings The original bracket which was used on the automobile it was removed from also holds the ESU The Tractor Doctor says this type of mounting reduces side thrust while allowing movement on the two shafts Three electrical terminals connect the steering to the 12-volt electrical system One is for the module input one for the 12-volt power input and another for power to the steering motor An extension of the bell housing mounting plate holds the module terminal connector the control box and the potentiometer The unit also uses a 12-volt switched input wire that connects to the potentiometer The Tractor Doctor says the installation works exceptionally well on the A with the dial set about half way up the power range Adding more power tends to oversteer he says The Tractor Doctor advises anyone adding a system like this to install restrictor diodes on the steering module input wire or alternately use a generator or alternator with a conventional voltage regulator All connections should be soldered and shrink-wrapped Cost of the whole installation for the Tractor Doctor was less than $200 a worthwhile investment he says to keep his wife happier while mowing the lawn He sells plans and instructions including contact information for the needed control module kit It’s available by sending a self-addressed stamped envelope and $10 cash to the address below Contact: FARM SHOW Followup The Tractor Doctor 4880 West 9th Street Road Oshkosh Wis 54904
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