Steering Cylinder rebuild note

woodlandfarms · Apr 16, 2015

So I bought my PT 7-8 years ago (Ken?) and rebuilt the steering cylinders soon after its arrival (It was used). Just recently my steering has been acting up, and after a quick test it was clear one of my cylinders was failing. I spoke to Tazwell and they said that the steering cylinders do need rebuilding more frequently than any of the others. They were not surprised with my 7 year run and one failing.

Anyone share the same results. Using the stump grinder I find is a bit harsh on the steering (slowly side to side, subtle movements)

MossRoad · Apr 16, 2015

Any hours estimate on the cylinders?

MossRoad · Apr 16, 2015

Thinking about it, it probably doesn't matter.... easy hours VW hard hours!

woodlandfarms · Apr 16, 2015

I often wonder with the 1850 that it is swinging a lot around in front in a stressful environment (slopes and double tires) I am also not kind to my machine

MossRoad · Apr 16, 2015

Yeah, I beat the heck out of mine, too. Better for it to do the work than my body. :thumbsup:

ponytug · Apr 17, 2015

X2

I grew up doing it all by hand and I don't miss it for a moment.

All the best,

Peter

MossRoad said:
Yeah, I beat the heck out of mine, too. Better for it to do the work than my body. :thumbsup:

MossRoad · Apr 17, 2015

I've told this story many times, so forgive me if you've heard it before....

My folks had a large yard with a long winding gravel driveway and about 60+ oak trees. We had a leaf rake and a snow shovel (Ok, maybe a few rakes and shovels). When I got married and moved out they bought a lawn tractor with mower, snow blower, dozer blade, a small walk behind snow thrower, a leaf blower, a little cart for the tractor and a 7' blade on a Toyota LandCruiser! I asked why they waited so long to buy all that stuff and their reply was "Because we had you."

ponytug · Apr 17, 2015

OK. Maybe I do miss it a little, but there always seems to be enough to go around, even with the PT.

I look back on some of the projects and I can quite believe we did them.

My folks just got rid of the farm.

All the best,

Peter

SpringHollow · Apr 19, 2015

I rebuilt mine 6 years ago

Ken

5dphilip · Apr 20, 2015

woodlandfarms said:
So I bought my PT 7-8 years ago (Ken?) and rebuilt the steering cylinders soon after its arrival (It was used). Just recently my steering has been acting up, and after a quick test it was clear one of my cylinders was failing. I spoke to Tazwell and they said that the steering cylinders do need rebuilding more frequently than any of the others. They were not surprised with my 7 year run and one failing.

Anyone share the same results. Using the stump grinder I find is a bit harsh on the steering (slowly side to side, subtle movements)

I just bought a pt1430. Rebuilt steering cylinders with piston and seals. $40 a side. 3000hrs. Its 15 minutes a side. Im not complaining. Also just a tip, leave the cylinders bolted up and break the cap with pipe wrench first. Then just unbolt the ram side. You don't have to even break the lines loose. Slide out ram and replace. Very simple.

MossRoad · Apr 20, 2015

Welcome to TBN! :thumbsup:

woodlandfarms · Apr 24, 2015

Got all the parts for both cylinders on Tuesday. Then the tractor stopped acting up. Must have been debris.... But standing by in case.

SpringHollow · Apr 24, 2015

When mine were causing problems (mainly causing the loader arms to drop catastrophically since the steering has priority), it was intermittent. When I opened them up to repair them, I was amazed that they worked at all.

Ken

woodlandfarms · Apr 26, 2015

Well, rebuilt the cylinders today. Hardest part was getting one of them to come apart... But, no good deed goes unpunished.

First, not sure why they had me replace the aluminum plunger. Complete mystery to me on that one.

Second, on both plungers the first seal was broken. OK. Thats OK, I get it. But what was a real bummer is that one of the broken seals was missing an inch out of the 3 inches of rubber. It was not in the catch pan, and was not in the tube. Which means.........

I was tracking it all back and all the hoses end up in the steering control. Frig. Now what....

SpringHollow · Apr 26, 2015

Mine were also missing pieces. Hopefully at some point they end up in the filter.

Ken

J_J · Apr 27, 2015

woodlandfarms said:
Well, rebuilt the cylinders today. Hardest part was getting one of them to come apart... But, no good deed goes unpunished.

First, not sure why they had me replace the aluminum plunger. Complete mystery to me on that one.

Second, on both plungers the first seal was broken. OK. Thats OK, I get it. But what was a real bummer is that one of the broken seals was missing an inch out of the 3 inches of rubber. It was not in the catch pan, and was not in the tube. Which means.........

I was tracking it all back and all the hoses end up in the steering control. Frig. Now what....

I am not understanding your use of the word plunger.

Is that the same as a piston that has the o-rings seals on it?

The cyl is not part of the seal lit.

Did you ask for that part or did they tell you that you must replace the cyl also?

woodlandfarms · Apr 27, 2015

Sorry JJ, Yes, Piston (not plunger).

I did not ask for it but they recommended it. I think I was robbed. What was worse is that they piston is soft aluminum. They package 2 in a bag. In shipping they bang against each other and the lips have little dings.... A little sand paper and we were squared away but none the less....

SpringHollow · Apr 27, 2015

Soft aluminum should be fine since they are not supposed to come into contact with anything. However, once the o-ring fails, the aluminum piston might see a little wear from fluid squeezing by.

Ken

J_J · Apr 27, 2015

woodlandfarms said:
Sorry JJ, Yes, Piston (not plunger).

I did not ask for it but they recommended it. I think I was robbed. What was worse is that they piston is soft aluminum. They package 2 in a bag. In shipping they bang against each other and the lips have little dings.... A little sand paper and we were squared away but none the less....

If your piston was not damaged, I would have sent them back for a refund, but since you touched then up some, it is probably to late.

Most salesmen will push a sale as they have to eat also.

As far as where that missing piece of o-rings is, could be anywhere.

You may find it soon or years from now.

Can you take a strong light and look in your tank and see if you can see any thing.