Fix Troy Bilt Lawn Tractor Steering in 5 Minutes 

Mine is a 2017 model Troy-bilt Horse. Same issue, though my rack and pinion gears are above the floor plate, rather than under it like yours. Also the pinion gear is a permanent part of the steering shaft. One thing about the design on mine is that debris gets collected inside the slide area of the rack gear and binds up steering also, and you have to take it all apart to clean it out to recover your steering range of motion. Yours has the benefit of gravity dropping debris away from the gears. It still uses the same hex flange though, made of brass. And it was so worn that the shaft kept sliding away from the teeth of the rack gear. I also have to lower the mower deck to the ground to fit my hands and tools underneath for the nuts on the rack gear as well as the bolt for the bottom of the shaft. This video may be 3 years old, but it's worth it's weight in gold for those now just encountering this issue on their out of warranty mowers. ;)🦊

Best video ever for solving this issue! Saved me huge money. I already had the new steering pinion and then discovered the underlying issue is the hex flange. Thank you !

This has to be the most helpful video I've seen in a very long time! Thank you!!

Thanks, informative. Short and sweet without the self absorbed production most RU-vidrs seem to make.

There is another video here on RU-vid showing the same repair but he took the deck off the bottom of the lawnmower. Just like yourself, I did not remove the deck. However, The model number I worked on for a customer, I access the replacement of the hex oil light bushing, By reaching my hand in between the motor and electrical wiring harness on the right hand side of the mower and put the item in place that way. After that it was all down hill. Good video. Thanks for posting it.

Nicely done! perfectly clear and straight to the point! Thanks!

Just bought one of these mowers. It was doing the same thing. My flange was worn but not terrible. A lot of gunk on the gear. Took it apart and put it back together and it solved the problem. Very informative video. Thank you for sharing. Big help.

Big thank you. I was going to replace everything but that little bushing till I saw your video. Thank you for helping me fix my mower. I was into too many parts and it turned out to be this simple one.

Getting some steering binding and popping in my Troy-Bilt. Found your video, ordered parts and getting it fixed this weekend. Only the hex flange on mine is thicker than what you had. Ordered the thicker one but I'm sure even the thinner one would've worked. Thanks!

Very accurate, part number of bearing hex flange, socket size, etc. Very helpful. Thanks

Thank you so much!!!! My steering wheel just did this tonight and I was so upset and you explained perfectly! I will be back after my part arrives from amazon!

I appreciate it, I started getting the gear slip last night and it even got hung up a few times while taking sharp turns. Almost ran into tree. Ha. Ur vid lead me straight to that elusive part number. Thank you

I have a Toro LX460 - your video was exactly what I needed. THANK YOU!

Mine looks, and acts the very same way! Thank you so much for your help during this video. When I got to the hex flange- it was non existent. Someone had put a Phillips head screw in it. What a piece of crap.

You nailed it for. Wow, part number and everything. Saved me time and money with a self-fix in less than 20 minutes.

Best video!! Super easy to understand and clear instructions, thanks!!

Thank you for sharing. How you explained everything

Thank you so much for nice,short,very clear instructions! I didn’t do it yet because I had to order the part but I will let you know how it goes!

Thanks man exactly what I was looking for explained everything perfectly keep up the good work

Excellent, informative, extremely helpful, clear, easy to follow. Thank you. 🙏🏻🇺🇸

Thank You for parts list, you got a like for it 😊😊😊 Keep making them please

Best steering repair video, I watched a few. No one ever mentions lubrication. Is the bearing bronze and self lubricating? I have 2 on order for my 2004 super bronco. I know if lube collects dirt that's a problem for wear. I saw how dirty the pinion was possibly from lube holding the dust and dirt. It's leave bagging time and it can be very dusty. I just picked up a mower jack and lifted my mower to see what parts I needed. As I moved the steering wheel the shaft backed out of the gear from all the play. Thanks for the easiest process for repairs.

Thanks, Good Video, saved me a lot of unnecessary disassembly and time.

Thank you. Great video. Made it simple and easy to follow. Riding with steering again.

All time great video. Thank you!

Blessings From Texas🤠

Thank you. I have a slight different model but when I took it apart I found this was the piece that needed R&R.

The first time I had that problem about 12+ years ago I bought 7 of the flanges ,6 for spares. I'm headed to my mower shop tomorrow to buy a few more. That flange is notorious for capping out when you least expect it, like when you need to turn when you're heading towards the pond.

I have a 2014 MTD, all the bolts in the video came off fine, but to get the steering shaft out there seems to be a lot more to do. The gear on the shaft is part of the shaft, one unit just like the replacement part I have for it ,not something to slide off. Can't pull it up thorugh the console, can't pull it down through the bottom frame because it has a hole only big enough for the hex flange, not the full gear. Great video though, it's spot on to the issue I have with both flange and gear worn out badly.

My steering went out tody. Thanks for the video, showed just what to do.

Thank you so much This was very helpful

Thanks man saved me a big hassle

My riding mower is a Troy Bilt Bronco, 2004. Setup looks to be identical to the mower in your video. However, I cannot get the pinion gear to budge...at all. It's as if it's glued to the shaft. I've sprayed the hell out of it with PB Blaster and that hasn't helped a bit. Just amazing to watch and hear you say "be ready to grab the gear or it will just fall off." Definitely not the case with mine. Did they make any of these with the shaft/gear as a one-piece assembly?

amazing! thank you so much. Also mostly works for the 26J

Thank you!! Wish I’d have found this video first lol

I just replaced mine, after an idiot on a forum said it was 2-3hr job. Not a chance. It took me all of 20 mins. This video's steps are 100% correct. No need to question them or look for another video.

Thank you so much! Very helpful!

Thank you for this information!

EXACTLY my problem. Thanks so much.

Good video , thanks. question...why does my troy bilt turn sharp to the right but less sharp to the left. it used to be even. did that gear slip maybe? or is there some adjustment?

This video will be helpful in centering up my steering wheel as I just bought a used Troy Bilt rider and the steering wheel is upside down and has my OCDs in overdrive this will be fixed hopefully tomorrow I assume I will need to get someone to hold the steering wheel centered while tightening the nut on the bottom?

Just what I needed. Thanks!!

Thanks for the helpful hand I've done it before just didn't remember how to

Fantastic video! Thanks very much. Thought this was going to be BAAAAAAAD!

Thanks for the video repair and parts link!

Thanks for the video, however mine bolts on different! Has that same nut/ bushing.

Thank you so very much mine did that steering wheel thing May 16th 2022.

good job . will ya wash that thing ?! wow ahaha i got scared. the flange will last longer if the steering shaft and flange were greased . . . plus make sure all tires have correct air pressure.

Some models have pinion gear and segment on top of frame with a #3 or 4 Phillips fastener on bottom. My fastener doesn't want to come loose...loctite? Heat it to remove?

Great video, well done!

Thanks for the help.

Awesome video! Great information! it Realy helped me fix my steering problem. :) :)

what is the torque setting to use on the steering wheel nut and the nut holding the small steering pinon gear. No mention of this in video. Also how do you fix the octagon hole that the hex flange bearing inserts into the frame when it's worn out? Otherwise good video

Sweet. Very Helpful.

Clear tutorial!! Thanks

Hey man, thanks for this great videos, very helpful!👍🏼

I think i found the play in the steering. After looking i found the link rod is where the slack is at. The hole is elongated instead of round. I will post update after installing new rod. Maybe i will try to video installation.

“Ok, so here’s what you got” Ok “Use these tools” Got ‘em “Get this flange thing, if you don’t have it I’ll see you in 2 days” Ordered. I’ll see you in 2 days❤

Thanks. Just order one. hope it work :D

Thanks for this. I don't care where you store your mower or what it looks like, this video saved me 200 bones.

the new hex flange still is not tight,, looks like the hole got rounded out when the gears wore,, any suggestions ??

Thanks for the video!

Thank you

Thanks for the video.

Question please. I have a pony troy built. Steering has a lot of play side to side. At the end of this video it shows you turning the wheel and it look like you have side to side play. Play is amount wheel will turn before engaging to make wheel move. Is that normal?

Thanks a bunch bro!

How do you get the old hex bearing out? Mine is stuck in the hole? Any ideas?

Very well done. ....

I have a Troy Bilt MODEL:13AT78BT023 and I can turn right okay, but it won't turn left at all anymore. I don't know what to do to fix it.

I have a similar problem, the steering wheel will not turn Left (not slipping, stuck). Same fix?

Put the Worm gear on upside down to original position to place better conditioned teeth to the Sector Gear

Great video. Thanks for the info.

Thanks!!!! Big help

I need little help i dont know much about parts and stuff we have the Troy Bilt Pony 2012 will that part fit all or they different sizes

Can you please send me link to get the bearing hex flange.? I can't find link

Great video.. 👍👍

Do you have to drop the deck?

i have question after i did all that my steering still not working.. its like the hole where shaft goes is wallowed out not catching gear at bottom.so i redone it still slipping anymore ideas thanks

What was the size of the nut? I keep buying the wrong size and I can’t seem to find the right size

Having same issue... Thanks

mine has a big phillips head bolt holding it and it dont wanna budge..

Thank You!!

Helps a whole lot to have the PTO assembly and deck removed as well LOL

Wow, clean up that mower!

Is it the same part number for newer mowers? I don’t know which year it is and can’t find it on the mower. Mine is the 13YX79KT011

thanks bro!

Can't get the part in Thailand.

Do I need to put grease on the gears?

What year and model # is this mower? I can't find any #'s on mine. Not many around.

Only other thing I would like to have seen is a schematic drawing of how that "Bearing Hex "nut" flange", small gear & steering shaft all fit together.

Any idea how to get to that hex on the craftsman r110?

It seems like one needs to take off the steering wheel so that the shaft can be lifted up, and the flange can be replaced… unless I’m missing something. Otherwise the video was excellent.

Did a chicken use to live there? I see the feather lol

This is an older troy built..., do you know the yr?

I love me too😊

Dang man, you store your mower in a chicken coop? Thanks for sharing your filthy lawn mower and was helpful. But i would run that mower thru the wash. LOL

It's funny that you are calling it a tractor 😅

"You should feel it just lock into place". Yeah right, dude. Ive been fighting this flange for a week. You fart too hard and it falls out of place. I tried using poster putty to stick it into place and that doesnt work either. What I can tell anyone watching this is, that flange is the biggest pain in the ass of this entire job and that includes completely removing the deck.

Lucky! Bronco is not as easy to remove and has a locktight ph#4 screw under the frame...... smh!

Gee, how come I does have the same amount of room. Gotta remove the deck.... 5 minutes is bull...