L 3010 Steering Cylinder Problem

[pa30b]

We have an L3010 HST with about 1,500 hours. We have a steering problem with the hydraulic steering cylinder, which is a double-acting cylinder with the rods coming out of both ends.

Recently, the end cap (the round o-ringed thing that the piston rod goes through) blew off past the wire cir-clip that retains it to the cylinder body. We put it back on and it happened immediately again. We've inspected the end cap and the cylinder, and both seem normal. Can't figure out how the cap can get past the cir-clip, which stays in its groove. Not too familiar with this tractor, but the retention of the endcap by only the cir-clip seem pretty weak from a design point of view.

Does the tractor's full hydraulic pressure bear on the endcap, or does it step down for the power steering? Do we have too much pressure for some reason? Any ideas?

 

[gmessick]

We have an L3010 HST with about 1,500 hours. We have a steering problem with the hydraulic steering cylinder, which is a double-acting cylinder with the rods coming out of both ends.

Recently, the end cap (the round o-ringed thing that the piston rod goes through) blew off past the wire cir-clip that retains it to the cylinder body. We put it back on and it happened immediately again. We've inspected the end cap and the cylinder, and both seem normal. Can't figure out how the cap can get past the cir-clip, which stays in its groove. Not too familiar with this tractor, but the retention of the endcap by only the cir-clip seem pretty weak from a design point of view.

Does the tractor's full hydraulic pressure bear on the endcap, or does it step down for the power steering? Do we have too much pressure for some reason? Any ideas?

I have the identical problem with the same tractor (GST instead of HST) so you are not alone. We bought a new end cap and cir-clip at $290 and it still blew out the end cap. The only thing we can think is that the groove for the cir-cap was expanded. This could happen if the cylinder steel was softer than the ring steel. We have tried to find a retaining ring with a slighter larger width so that the inner diameter would be smaller and would would be able to hold the end cap. I have not been able so far to find a retaining ring with the right specs unless I buy in very large quantities. If you find a solution please post it. I will keep trying. The new cylinder is about $820. A sharp edge on the end cap instead of the taper against the clip would be a better design.