How to Fix the Steering on a Lawn Mower

by DoItYourself Staff

Learning how to fix the steering on a lawn mower is a time consuming job but can be easily carried out by an individual of intermediate ability. There is a strong possibility that you will need to read the riding lawn mower manual beforehand to recognize individual components. You will also need a good memory to remember where all the parts go when you’re ready to put it back together although it’s entirely possible to take notes while work is being carried out for this purpose.

Step 1 - Safety

Disconnect the spark plug wire and battery cables to remove any danger of the lawn mower starting while you are working on it. Also, you may want to wear some sort of gloves while doing this repair as you’ll be working in tight spaces and might end up scraping your knuckles.

Step 2 – Access

Lift up and remove the mower hood and any other panels that lead to the steering mechanism. The more room you have to work on it, the easier it will be to carry out any subsequent work.

Step 3 – Check Bushes

One of the main reasons for the steering on a riding lawn mower to be affected is that the bushes are worn. Check them carefully and replace if wear is evident. It may be beneficial to remove the bushes so that a full inspection can be made.

Step 4 – Check Bearings

Check the bearings thoroughly as these can also lead to difficulties with steering. If wear is evident, replace them with new parts. Wear is usually noticeable by small oil leaks or a dry, rattling sound.

Step 5 – Replace Worn Parts

Visually check all other exposed parts on your riding lawn mower for signs of wear and replace those parts as necessary. Leaving worn parts in your mower after adding new ones to it will cause those slightly worn parts to wear down faster and cause more work in the longer-term.

Step 6 –Test for Worn Steering Linkage

The steering wheel shouldn’t move more than one quarter of a turn before the wheels move. If there is more than just a small element play in it, replace the linkage or ball joints to tighten up the steering. If there is too much play in the steering and you do not rectify any problems with the ball joints and linkage, you could put yourself in danger during machine operation.

Step 7 –Test for Steering Accuracy

Turn your steering wheel all the way to the left and then all the way to the right. Make sure it has the same turn radius on both sides before you finish your repairs.

Step 8 – Replace Panels

Put back the panels that you removed to gain access to the steering mechanism and replace the lawn mower hood. Make sure everything is secured and tightly fitted.