jd 400 power steering

goatman 1 · Sep 16, 2011

What to look for when the power steering has kist stopped working?

JDgreen227 · Sep 17, 2011

goatman 1 said:
What to look for when the power steering has kist stopped working?

Isn't the JD 400 the first really heavy duty garden tractor Deere produced?? Hydraulic assist for the steering would likely be the same as that on my 318...is a line to the PS cylinder kinked? Is fluid level low in the system?

Please be specific, are you saying the steering is acting like it has no boost?

goatman 1 · Sep 25, 2011

I just bought it that way, and the guy said the PS didn't work. I've been under the weather, and haven't been able to check it out, but I will soon.

beenthere · Sep 26, 2011

goatman 1
You can see the parts of the power steering on the 400 by going to jdparts.com and signing in (it is free registration). Gives you a chance to see the various parts and their part numbers if needed.

Sample of what shows for the 400. See a cylinder and a control valve.

mfreund · Sep 26, 2011

The steering is a power assist, not power steering. The 400 had a system all to itself. A friend of mine has one and said it is not too bad to do. There is a rebuild kit for the control valve from deere. I think he said it was like $75. You will get sticker shock if you ask to buy a rebuilt control valve. He said that was like $700. It is a very common problem with the 400's.

zlock24 · Oct 9, 2011

I've done a rebuild kit on a 445 (I know it's not the same exact set up) and it still didn't work, as it turned out the cylinder was broke, so had to buy a new one of those at about $150

rudyb0148 · May 13, 2014

I just joined Tractorbynet today to look for possible help on my JD 400. This thing is a beast and I bought it used about 12 years ago. My mower deck is long gone and I use the 400 to get from point A to B, drag cut up tree branches to the burn pile, and haul my small flat bed trailer loaded with materials and tools all around. I also own a Kubota L 185 2 wd and a JD L120. Both have mowers and I have been using them all spring. I had to put a new battery into the 400 yesterday, started it up & soon found out I didn't have any power steering assist. In reading these older posts on this same issue I learned there is no fluid reservoir and will check for a kinked line today. Any updated info would be appreciated and I will start checking things today.

JDgreen227 · May 13, 2014

rudyb0148 said:
I just joined Tractorbynet today to look for possible help on my JD 400. This thing is a beast and I bought it used about 12 years ago. My mower deck is long gone and I use the 400 to get from point A to B, drag cut up tree branches to the burn pile, and haul my small flat bed trailer loaded with materials and tools all around. I also own a Kubota L 185 2 wd and a JD L120. Both have mowers and I have been using them all spring. I had to put a new battery into the 400 yesterday, started it up & soon found out I didn't have any power steering assist. In reading these older posts on this same issue I learned there is no fluid reservoir and will check for a kinked line today. Any updated info would be appreciated and I will start checking things today.

Welcome to TBN....it's rare that a thread this old gets a new post. Is the fluid level full in the hydro system and is the fluid the correct type? If the hydro system moves the tractor okay, I would check to see if the steering cylinder is actually getting flow. May I suggest you also check into the "New Members" section here?

rudyb0148 · May 13, 2014

Thanks, I will checkout all of your suggestions. I am not sure how to check the fluid level, so I have to start there.

plwboy · Jul 13, 2014

rudyb0148 said:
I just joined Tractorbynet today to look for possible help on my JD 400. This thing is a beast and I bought it used about 12 years ago. My mower deck is long gone and I use the 400 to get from point A to B, drag cut up tree branches to the burn pile, and haul my small flat bed trailer loaded with materials and tools all around. I also own a Kubota L 185 2 wd and a JD L120. Both have mowers and I have been using them all spring. I had to put a new battery into the 400 yesterday, started it up & soon found out I didn't have any power steering assist. In reading these older posts on this same issue I learned there is no fluid reservoir and will check for a kinked line today. Any updated info would be appreciated and I will start checking things today.

I know this is an old thread, but after checking everything that I read here I have found that my power assisted steering loss was caused by a stuck hydraulic valve lever. The lever seemed to move some but was stuck in the float position causing the steering not to work. It was a little fooling when the cylinder would still act like it should being off the tractor but once under tension it would get weak. I am assuming since that lever was engaged it was bypassing. The valve that was stuck was on the far outer lever.