I have and older Model I think 917.254941 38" Lt4000. After 16 or so years I thought I would take the slop out of my steering and I would bump the fence occassionally with the front tire and hear that slipping sound. Then, after that it wouldn't turn to the left very far. Depending on the model you can still get most all the parts for the steering. I replaced the Shaft, Sector gear, support shaft, pitman shaft and the steering bushing. Now most parts you can get to except for the steering shaft. you either have to tear the dash apart and get to the top bracket to to get the shaft out due to the spline gears at the bottom won't come through the steering bushing mount hole on my model (hopefully the newer one don't have this bad design flaw). Also don't forget the bolt (allen head, on my model) on the support shaft mounted on the bottom of the steering shaft. if you don't have to take the steering shaft out, usually this plastic piece is worn. Slop is you biggest problem, I had to shim up the pittman shaft to close the gap between the sector gear and the shaft lower spline teeth with thin washers or shims stock. This took me about 3 tries to get it to turn the way I wanted it and to get all the slop out. This is no small task and make sure you center the sector gear in the steering shaft. and watch the travel from side to side. I made an alignment mark on mine to get it centered and a reference mark in case it slips again. There is alot of pressure put on the sector gear. I also had wear in the steering bracket that mounts at the bottom to the frame cross support plate. I ended up cutting a hole in the bottom of that plate so I could remove the steering shaft out the bottom without tearing the dash apart. You could also have wear in the front axle bushing spacer which will alot the front axle to move back and forth or the single pivot mounting bolt could be loose alowing the slop. IMO you will never get the same travel to the left as the right. I think the design prevents this and most people turn to the right more sharply. If I was going to buy my son-in-law a mower it would be a push mower (if I had one)this would make him understand the finer things in life don't come free. Any product that has stress put on parts are going to wear, it's a fact of mechanical devises, LTs are just like cars, you can drive them for ever if you take care of them or you can get one every three or four years and not have to worry about wear much.

It's not splined. Problem is that it has probably rusted tight. Try some penetrating oil. If that doesn't work, try a puller. You might have to cut the center out of the wheel so the puller can press against the shaft. Last resort is a torch to heat it.

locknut - I checked under both front boots and the cables were in tact. They seemed loose so I thought an adustment was required. Since I couldn't find any info on cable adjustment I decided to go to the dealer. I didn't investigate any further at that point, just hurried up and off I went to the dealer. Turns out one of the cables was broken. The service rep didn't know where the cable broke but said he would make sure the mechanic saved the old cable. It will cost me about 140 as well. I run mine hard as well so I guess a visit to the dealer after four years isn't bad. Thanks for your help!

Sometimes the lower bushing on the steering shaft goes away on these. Best to replace both. Just need to get into it and look for wear.