DK35SE steering problem....any ideas?

[Starks]

I seem to have lost effective steering today on my 56 hour DH35SE HST.

I was using a 5ft Bush Hog Squealer around the property when I "discovered" a yellow jacket's nest in some thick brush. After the first two pops I quickly reversed about 30 feet, threw the throttle down and killed the switch. After battling with the little bastards for a while I was ready to get back to work.

I quickly discovered that I had little to no steering and the wheel would rotate endlessly in either direction. FEL and 3pt worked fine and I couldn't find any leaks...fluid level was fine. It would randomly steer some, and most often I would turn the wheel and get some steering but the wheels would slip back toward neutral while I was holding the wheel in one place. Was able to creep back to shelter where I looked more thoroughly and could still find no leaks.

A: little to no steering
B: wheel will make continual rotation in either direction with no "stop"
C: FEL and 3pt seem fine

Any ideas??? Something simple like a fuse would be preferred (kidding, I know it's not a fuse).

Thanks in advance.

 

[IslandTractor]

I have no experience but do have the workshop manual in front of me. Under "steering wheel free play" in troubleshooting they list the following :

Loose steering wheel mounting nut
Leakage in steering unit or damage in steering unit
Leakage in steering cylinder
Air in steering system or no hydraulic fluid
Blown whatchamacallit fuse (joke joke)

Hope that helps.

 

[Starks]

Thanks for the reply. Do you know if the steering system uses the main hydraulic system's fluid and pump for operation? If so, I just recently did my 50 hour service and am wondering if there could be air trapped. Interestingly I drained almost exactly 11 gallons during the service but when I put 11 back in it read overfull on the stick which might jibe with trapped air not allowing all of the new fluid to settle everywhere thus raising the indicated level on the dipstick.

I wonder if there is a bleeder screw on the steering rack to check for air, or you need to crack one of the two feed line fittings.

 

[IslandTractor]

I'll check the manual and get back to you.

 

[IslandTractor]

Steering system is tied in to the main tractor hydraulics. I cannot find reference to a bleeder screw/valve in any of the fairly detailed exploded diagrams.

 

[IslandTractor]

Not sure if this iPhone photo is useful. Let me know if there is a specific diagram that would help.

 

[MotorSeven]

I am thinking that "quickly reversed for 30' in heavy brush" might have something to do with this. Crawl under there & double check every plug wire & hyrdo connection. I have had more stuff deranged by an errant stick(especially going backeards) than.....well....than you can shake a stick at!

RD

 

[IslandTractor]

I am thinking that "quickly reversed for 30' in heavy brush" might have something to do with this.

RD

Very good point. I lost 4wd suddenly while bush hogging and it turned out to be a simple disconnection of electrics under the operator station. I don't recall electrics having anything to do with steering though but it would be worth checking.

 

[Starks]

Thanks for the suggestions but no luck so far. I took the cover off of the steering column and have traced the lines from the valve block assembly to the steering cylinder. Definitely no leaks or apparent damage anywhere. If I lift the front of the tractor off the ground with the loader, the wheels will turn. When they're on the ground the they will intermittently turn.

Am I remembering correctly that when the wheel is turned to full lock there should be a hard stop and you can't turn the wheel any farther? I can spin the wheel indefinitely in either direction.

Anyone know anything about tearing down and / or repairing the steering valve assembly?

 

[IslandTractor]

Anyone know anything about tearing down and / or repairing the steering valve assembly?

Aren't you still under warranty?

Otherwise, the workshop manual will give you pretty detailed instructions including excellent cartoons and exploded parts diagrams. There is at least one special tool required.