Having crooked front wheels on your riding lawn mower is no fun. You have to keep fighting with the steering wheel as the lawn mower struggles to keep a straight line. Now, I thought this was a problem for my lawn mower only, but it seems this is actually a pretty common issue most owners of ride-on lawn mowers have at some point. So, let me share with you where the problem is coming from and what you can do to repair it.
Why Are My Lawn Mower Wheels Crooked? (The Short Answer)
A front wheel on a riding lawn mower is connected to the frame using a wheel spindle assembly that is controlled by a tie rod connected to the steering mechanism. A fault with either the wheel spindle assembly, tie rod, or the frame spindle housing can result in the front wheel coming out of alignment.
4 Possible Reasons Why Your Lawn Mower Wheels Are Crooked
You’ll definitely notice there is something going on with the front end of your lawn mower if your mower’s wheels are not aligned. So, let’s take a look at the four most common causes of this issue.
The Wheel Spindle Assembly is Bent
A bent wheel spindle assembly is the most common cause of a riding lawn mower with wheels crooked. The spindle assembly includes the axle through the front wheel hub, the spindle through the frame’s spindle housing, and the mounting point for the tie rod.
So, it’s a small part with a big job. If you take a close look at both wheel spindle assemblies, they should look identical. But if you have mower wheels that are not aligned, then I’m pretty sure the wheel spindle assemblies look different. One probably looks bent or twisted. If this is the case, you can either try to straighten out the wheel spindle assembly or replace it entirely.
You Have a Bent Tie Rod
Next, take a look at the tie rod that connects the wheel spindle assembly to the steering mechanism under the lawn mower. Again, the two tie rods should both look the same. If there is a difference in how angled or straight they are, then you could have a damaged tie rod. So, you can try to straighten the tie rods, or you can try to replace them.
Worn Connection Between the Wheel Spindle Assembly & the Tie Rod
Another issue with the tie rod is that it could be bolted to the wheel spindle assembly. Over time, it’s common for the joint to wear down and get bigger. This means the wheel’s spindle assembly moves further and gives the appearance of crooked wheels.
So, grab a wrench and remove the nut holding the tie rod from the spindle assembly. Then, inspect the bolt hole. If you notice it’s gotten bigger, then it might be best to replace the spindle assembly entirely.
Also, you want to make sure to inspect both sides of the mower and check the spindle assembly on both wheels.
A Bent Lawn Mower Frame
The last item to check is the actual frame of the lawn mower. It’s possible that the frame has suffered some damage from either an impact, a broken weld, or some heavy corrosion. So, check both of the spindle housings on either side of the lawn mower and look for any problems.
How to Align Lawn Mower Wheels that are Crooked (Step By Step)
Now that we’ve covered the possible reasons why your lawn mower wheels are crooked let’s look at some possible fixes.
Straightening / Replacing a Wheel Spindle Assembly
This is the first fix on the list because a bent wheel spindle assembly is the most common cause of crooked wheels. So, let’s dive in and figure out how to fix it.
Jack Up the Lawn Mower
Before you start with the replacement of the wheel spindle assembly, you’ll need to jack up the front of the lawn mower so that the front wheels are off the ground.
So, park the mower on a level surface, then raise the front wheels. I just use a car jack and a couple of bricks on either side of one of the rear wheels so that the mower can’t move. Also, I like to throw an axle stand under the front of the mower just in case there is a problem with my jack. You never know. Ok, time for the actual repair.
Remove the Wheel
First, use a pair of pliers and remove the cap from the inside of the wheel hub covering the axle. Then, use either your pliers or a screwdriver and remove the mower wheel retaining clip on the end of the axle. Once the clip is removed, you can remove the wheel from the lawn mower.
Remove the Tie Rod
Next, use a wrench and remove the nut holding the tie rod to the wheel spindle assembly and set it to one side. Then, remove the tie rod from the spindle assembly.
Remove the Wheel Assembly from the Spindle Housing
Now, head to the top of the spindle housing on the lawn mower’s frame and remove the clip washer with a pair of pliers or a screwdriver. Then, lower the spindle assembly out of the spindle housing and remove it from the lawn mower.
Straighten the Wheel Spindle Assembly
Now that you have the spindle removed from your lawn mower, you can try to straighten it out. So, if you place the spindle in a vise and use a big adjustable wrench or a hollow metal pipe, you might be able to straighten it out enough that it will stop your wheels from being crooked. If it doesn’t work, you’ll need to get a replacement.
Now, I’ve searched on the internet and it seems the spindles start at around $10. So, it’s not that big of a cost if straightening it out doesn’t work. Let’s take a look at how to install the new spindle.
Install the New/Straightened Wheel Spindle Assembly
First, lift the spindle up into the spindle housing, making sure that you have all the provided washers in the correct place, then install the clip washer. Next, thread the bolt through the spindle assembly and install the tie rod nut. Then, place the wheel back over the wheel axle, replace the washers and the clip washer, then replace the plastic axle cover. Finally, lower the lawn mower off the jack and remove the wheel chokes.
Tools Required to Replace a Wheel Spindle Assembly
- Car Jack
- Two Bricks
- Screwdriver
- Pliers
- Wrench Set
- Lager Wrench
- Hollow Metal Pipe
- Replacement Wheel Spindle Assembly
Replacing a Tie Rod
Replacing a tie rod is pretty simple. Each rod is attached to the lawn mower with two nuts. One at the wheel spindle assembly and one at the steering mechanism. So, grab a wrench and remove both nuts and the tie rod from the lawn mower. Then, install the new tie rod and reinstall the two nuts. This will take care of a damaged tie rod.
Tools Needed to Replace a Lawn Mower Steering Tie Rod
- Replacement Tie Rod
- Wrench Set
Adjusting a Tie Rod
So, look closely at the end of the tie rod that is connected to the steering mechanism and see if there’s a threaded bolt going into the rod. Also, there might be a nut tight against the tie rod end. If there is a threaded bolt, then you can adjust the tie rod instead of replacing it. Why all manufacturers don’t use these, I’ll never know.
First, remove the affected tie rod from the steering mechanism. Then, head to the front of the lawn mower and straighten up the wheels so that they are aligned. Next, head back to the tie rod you previously removed. Lift up the tie rod being careful you don’t move the wheel, and see how far away it is from the mount of the steering mechanism. What you’ll aim to do is either extend or shorten the tie rod so it can be mounted back on the mower’s steering mechanism.
Use a wrench to loosen the nut that sits up against the end of the tie rod, then either extend or shorten the threaded bolt. Once you have the rod at the right length, you can mount the rod back onto the lawn mower. Finally, use a wrench to tighten the nut against the end of the tie rod. This will protect the bolt threads from wear.
Tools Required to Adjust the Tie Rod
- Wrench Set
Repairing the Lawn Mower Frame
Straightening out the frame can be a tough one, as you probably don’t have many big metalworking tools. So, what I have seen some people do is bend the wheel spindle assembly intentionally to compensate for the damage to the frame. This is a case of putting the assembly in a vise and using some large grips to bend it.
Now, this isn’t perfect, but it does help straighten out the wheels. If you don’t want to give this a try, then you could take the lawn mower to a repair shop and see what they say. They probably have the right tools and can help you out.
Complications That Can Arise if Lawn Mower Wheels are Not Aligned
The main issue you’ll have with wheels that are not aligned is that the lawn mower won’t go in a straight line. The mower is going to go in whichever direction the wheels are pointing. So, you’ll have to constantly fight with the steering wheel, and the ride won’t be very enjoyable.
Another issue you might notice is that the wheels start to drag over the lawn. This is because the wheels point in one direction but go in another. So, the sideways motion of the wheel can result in damage to your lawn. This is particularly noticeable when you make turns, as the misalignment can be exaggerated and cause even more damage.
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