Belarus T40A Super steering EXTREMELY difficult, as if all of the sudden

[TractorsRuleCarsDrool]

Hi, everyone.

I have a Belarus T40A Super tractor that I've been working on repairing this year. Finally changed out the oil and it seemed ready to start but now the steering is EXTREMELY difficult, it's like wrestling with the steering wheel. We poured new hydraulic fluid, it lifted more than a ton with the swinging drawbar and there wasn't a problem like this before. It did have some steering troubles before, likely due to asymmetrical front wheel placement but we got those back in order and now they're even, set out to the side for extra balance.

I'd like to know if anyone had this experience, if you know where to start from or what could be the issue. I'm sorry if I didn't provide enough detail, feel free to ask.

 

[big bubba]

welcome to the forum. assuming it's power not mechanical steering? when did you last change hyd filter(s)? maybe start there. if you have fel, maybe lift ft end & observe steering movement. if you change filters, clean strainer screen as well if it has one. regards

 

[TractorsRuleCarsDrool]

welcome to the forum. assuming it's power not mechanical steering? when did you last change hyd filter(s)? maybe start there. if you have fel, maybe lift ft end & observe steering movement. if you change filters, clean strainer screen as well if it has one. regards

Thank you! Yes, it is power steering. I don't know if the filters were changed on this one but I'm definitely planning on doing that as the first option.

Sorry, what is fel? If you mean like a jack for lifting the tractor, we do have one, and by the looks of the steering so far, the power transfer (not sure what it's called in English) from the steering wheel to the hydraulic booster spins pretty slow, it's been greased though, about as slow as the steering wheel, naturally.

There ARE some hydraulic leaks around the hydraulic booster for the steering, mostly around the part going straight from the steering wheel into the booster and the bottom of the 'pillar' that kinda goes from the hydraulic parts towards the bottom of the front of the tractor. I hope this makes sense, I can send photos too.

 

[ptsg]

Does this tractor have a separate reservoir for the steering fluid? By your description, it sounds like it is very low on fluid, probably so low the pump can't pick anything up anymore.

 

[big bubba]

yes, advise to change hyd filters if not the system. fel: front end loader. useful to pick up front end, etc. yes, do trace those leaks. regards

 

[TractorsRuleCarsDrool]

Does this tractor have a separate reservoir for the steering fluid? By your description, it sounds like it is very low on fluid, probably so low the pump can't pick anything up anymore.

It has a hydraulic tank where 14.5 liters go altogether in the hydraulic system and I think you can pour 11 or so into the tank itself, all the power steering parts are connected to the main tank and the hydraulic pump. We poured hydraulic oil freshly and there isn't enough fluid to cover the top of the dipstick, but the hydraulic commands on the back work extremely fine, like the drawbar lifted EXTREMELY heavy things and even lifted the tractor's rear end off the ground.

But, we could fill it up to the top, if you think it could make a difference?

 

[ptsg]

It has a hydraulic tank where 14.5 liters go altogether in the hydraulic system and I think you can pour 11 or so into the tank itself, all the power steering parts are connected to the main tank and the hydraulic pump. We poured hydraulic oil freshly and there isn't enough fluid to cover the top of the dipstick, but the hydraulic commands on the back work extremely fine, like the drawbar lifted EXTREMELY heavy things and even lifted the tractor's rear end off the ground.

But, we could fill it up to the top, if you think it could make a difference?

No, I don't think it would make a diference.

I know they do things slightly different on this tractor than most other tractors, so we could really use a manual to help getting some guidance on this one.

 

[TractorsRuleCarsDrool]

No, I don't think it would make a diference.

I know they do things slightly different on this tractor than most other tractors, so we could really use a manual to help getting some guidance on this one.

Well, the manual is in Russian

Been trying to translate it to my language but it's a tardy process as automatic translation is extremely inaccurate and I have to pretty much write everything down word for word. But I'll give you a link to a page that is also on Russian although I used a page translator to make it as accurate as possible, not sure how did it go. You might understand the pictures and everything better than me. I don't think these are specifically for the T40A Super, but it is the T40A and T40.

This is the index of the entire manual:

Тракторы Т-40, Т-40А - инструкция по эксплуатации онлайн

I don't know what browser you use, but it should automatically ask to translate to English.

This is the steering part with an image:

Трактор Т-40, Т-40А. Рулевое управление

Hydraulic power steering and its maintenance (if it translated right):

Трактор Т-40, Т-40А. Гидроусилитель руля и его техническое обслуживание

Hydraulic system of the tractor:

Трактор Т-40, Т-40А. Гидросистема трактора

Hydraulic system and maintenance:

Трактор Т-40, Т-40А. Узлы гидросистемы и их техническое обслуживание

Again, sorry if these aren't good, I've been struggling with the documentation, too.

 

[big bubba]

good luck w/Russian 101. be interested to hear how the problem is solved. i've heard of clutch issues on Belarus, not hyd.
best regards