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Riding Mower Won’t Turn? Full Guide & Fix For Hard Steering, Skipping Grinding / Not Turning One Way

Individualized Repair

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Is your riding mower refusing to turn right or left, skipping when steering, grinding, or feeling tight and jerky when trying to steer?

In this video, we show you exactly how to diagnose and repair the most common steering issues on Craftsman T140 and similar MTD made riding mowers.

The mower in this video is a Craftsman T140 (model 13AL78XT093), but the steering system is identical on many other models from:

Craftsman, Troy Bilt, Yard Machines, Yard-Man, Cub Cadet, Bolens, Huskee, and other MTD built mowers.

What We Cover:

Full inspection of the steering gear, ball joint, drag link, bushings, shoulder bolt, and spacers

How to diagnose popping, grinding, tight steering, and not turning all the way

What causes steering to lock up in one direction (commonly debris jammed between gear plate & gear)

How to replace worn steering components for smooth turning again

How to upgrade the steering bolt to a standard hex bolt for easier service later

Why this issue affects so many low-cost MTD mowers and how to prevent it in the future

If your riding mower only turns part of the way, skips when turning, or steers hard to one side, this guide will show you how to fully fix the problem.

Applicable To These Common Models:

Craftsman T100, T110, T120, T130, T140, T150
Troy-Bilt Pony, Bronco, TB30, TB42, TB46
Yard Machines 13A2775S000, 13AC762F000
Bolens 13AM762F765

And many other MTD-built riding mowers with front mounted sector gear steering systems.

The links contained here are affiliate links for which we may be compensated if you make a purchase

Steering shaft replacement video Craftsman Riding Mower Steering Gears Stri...

Parts Used:

941-04124 Steering Bushing https://ebay.us/ZnQ9IV
747-05383A Drag Link https://amzn.to/4nPKzZm
617Z04094A Steering Gear https://ebay.us/DvVanK
738-04141 Shoulder Screw https://amzn.to/3Lq5AMw
723-0448A Ball Joint https://amzn.to/483LdN1
750-06192A Spacer https://amzn.to/47F4VON

Video equipment:

GoPro Hero 13 https://amzn.to/4m3kZQE
GoPro Media Mod https://amzn.to/46R95UK
GoPro Light Mod https://amzn.to/44wIGdA
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Microphone:
DJI Mini Mic 3 https://amzn.to/4bmNROT

Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more lawn mower repair tips, troubleshooting guides, and DIY small engine fixes to keep your equipment working smoothly!

Save some money by doing it yourself!

Check Out The Tools We Use Often:

Spark Check'r SPC-7200 https://ebay.us/Js5ohF
PET-4000 Ignition Tester https://amzn.to/41KdfKS
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Milwaukee 12v batteries for ratchet https://amzn.to/434QukO
Dewalt 20V Angle Grinder https://amzn.to/3Yi0vIL

About Us:
My name is Martin. I have been repairing tools and small engines for almost 20 years. We operate a small engine repair shop in Illinois. We service / repair Briggs & Stratton, Kohler, Kawasaki, John Deere, Cub Cadet, Toro Tecumseh, Loncin, Honda, Craftsman, Husqvarna, MTD, Troy Bilt, Simplicity, John Deere, Exmark, LCT, Generac and many more brands. We work on riding mowers, walk behind mowers, snow blowers, zero turns, generators, pressure washers and much more. We normally repair about 3,000 pieces of equipment every year and look at many more that are beyond an affordable repair. Hopefully our videos will save you some money and give you the information you need to work on your own equipment or figure out the issue at hand.

Disclaimer: Links included in the description are affiliate links. As an Ebay & Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases. There will be no additional charge to you for purchasing here. We appreciate your support, which allows us to continue to provide original content!

Please be careful when repairing any piece of equipment and follow all possible safety measures. This video is for entertainment purposes only.

#RidingMowerFix #MTDSteeringRepair #individualizedrepair #CraftsmanT140 #LawnTractorSteering #MowerWontTurn #SteeringGearReplacement #LawnmowerRepair #DIYMowerFix #TroyBiltRepair #CubCadetSteering #MowerSkippingTurns #HardSteeringFix #DragLinkRepair #BallJointMowerFix

20 Comments

@IndRepair Creator 11 months ago Pinned

Check Out The Tools We Use Often:

Spark Check'r SPC-7200 https://ebay.us/Js5ohF
PET-4000 Ignition Tester https://amzn.to/41KdfKS
Dewalt 20V Impact https://amzn.to/3WJrDRt
Neiko Impact Socket Set https://amzn.to/3ygAtwP
Dewalt 20V Grease Gun https://amzn.to/4folbH0
Dewalt 20V Impact Driver https://amzn.to/3z16OaE
Titan Impact Bit Set https://amzn.to/3LChxvk
Right Angle Milwaukee Ratchet https://amzn.to/3Xdfxki
Dewalt 20V Angle Grinder https://amzn.to/3BiYdkP
Digital Tire Gauge https://amzn.to/421oFer
Milwaukee 12v batteries for ratchet https://amzn.to/434QukO
Clip On Work/Video Light https://amzn.to/3XPeqqE
Dewalt 20V Angle Grinder https://amzn.to/3Yi0vIL
Vice Grip Pliers https://amzn.to/4gMHpmK
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Noco Boost HD Jump Pack https://amzn.to/45gbaHm
Digital Voltage / Amp Meter https://amzn.to/3y3ipGt
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Tiny-Scan Code Reader TS-140 Stens part number 750-902 https://amzn.to/46b3rMZ

The links contained here are affiliate links for which we may be compensated if you make a purchase

@DallysEve 2 months ago (edited)

A 71 year old lady and i've just done this job myself on my MTD with one of your valuable tips. Many thanks from Australia. Cheers.

@dbpiercy1 3 days ago

nice job

@bobbell5928 2 weeks ago

Excellent instrutional video

@HobbyMotorDK 11 months ago

Super good info and fix Martin 👍👍 - thanks for sharing

@Tarheel-Aerials 10 months ago

Great thorough video as always. Thanks for sharing your vast knowledge with us. You Rock. 🎸!!!!!!

@Rein_Ciarfella 10 months ago

This was a great video! Excellent production values of lighting, camera placement, audio, etc.
it was really easy to understand the diagnosis as well as the repair to this lawn tractor. 🔧👍

@watermanone7567 11 months ago

Nice job, I saw the same model for sale down the street and by the time I got home and got my pickup and trailer it was gone. The guy only wanted $100 bucks for it. Great video, thanks.

@philliphall5198 11 months ago

This is very common problem after a few hard years 😢😢

@Texan_DIYer 2 months ago

My mother bought a 2019 Craftsman T110 from Marketplace when she bought her new house in 2022 and had to replace that damn bolt and whole new steering assembly incl the shaft and it was a B***ch but the T110 being 4 years old at that time finally came lose with an impact driver with the phillips head and torched the top to loosen it but she sold that one and bought from her sister same YEAR (lol) T100 so same setup and lo and behold same problem a year after buying it except I have completely stripped out the phillips head on the the shaft bolt and was tryin to consider ideas how to get it removed. Thank you for the ideas! The video was actually very helpful and suggestive. ( I told her if she buy another MTD mower, hire someone to fix it next time LOL)

@johnwhitehead7600 6 months ago

I usually spray a little bit of dry graphite lube on the steering mechanism when I get my mower ready for the season.

@elijames3041 11 months ago

Hello

@jeffbechtel5854 10 months ago

Martin, I once had same issue with trying to break phillips head bolt on end of steering shaft bearing cap; I cut Phillips head off with a cutoff tool then washer came right off and I used vise grip to remove remaining stud; saved a bunch of hassle; Jeff in Memphis

@johnhowe6885 1 month ago

Heat the steering shaft screw to melt the lock tight.

@Jim-ie6uf 11 months ago

Great video, too bad most parts are NLA

@RaysLaughsAndLyrics 4 months ago

Thanks for sharing. Suggestion, if I may : Weld a nut on the lower steering shaft Phillips/ Slot head screw using a button weld. As a bonus the heat generated by the weld will help with removal of the modified screw. If your weld has good capture you can reuse the modified screw. All the best to you and yours.🖖

@clydeward-o8m 3 months ago

How about doing this video on t110. 42 in rider?

@KerryStrange 1 month ago

Wht could you not use a small pipe wrench to loosen that bolt?

@johnnywinter8892 6 days ago

That was funny, the part with the two pairs of vise-grips to remove that damn Philips screw! The 10 seconds pause, thinking to yourself '' what the f am I doing, I'm actually tightening that goddamned screw! Bhahaha! Don't worry, it happens once in a while to me too, as well as every mechanic, and it always happens in this kind of acrobatic situation, with head upside down, one twisted arm over one blind side, the other hand trying to adjust the vise grips, and then, the brain suddenly gets mixed up with the up, down, left, right, clockwise concept! That's when the short pause is needed to reboot, before proceeding with the task the appropriate way! By the way, I always replace that stupid Philips bolt with a 5/16'' HEX head bolt, like it should have been done at the factory in the first place. I also never understood why some models like this one used a ridiculous stud on the gear plate instead of a second ball joint at both ends of the tie rod! It just doesn't make any sense!
Keep up the good work!