Leaking steering Jinma 204

[Catch95]

I've started losing hydraulic fluid from the left side axle / hub. I've attached a pic showing where it is coming out. Excuse the messy tractor but its been very wet here!

I've been topping up the fluid for the power steering but am losing the battle. Any help on what needs to be done would be much appreciated. Is this a repair I can do myself? And what parts am I likely to need?

Many thanks

Mark

 

[Rich Waugh]

There should not be any hydraulic fluid in that area. The front axle should be lubed with gear oil, same as the tranny. The only hydraulic fluid up front is in the power steering system and that has no fluid connection to the steering axis. If it is hydraulic fluid you're seeing there, it must be running there from the power steering hoses or cylinder - check it out closer. If it is actually gear oil, then you'll need to tear down that front kingpin assembly and replace the seals.

Rich

 

[greg_g]

Locate items 28 through 31 on the diagram;

• felt washer 184.31.108
• oil seal FB50x72x7
• oil seal FB50x72x12
• bushing 184.31.150

Could be any one, I'd replace all four.

//greg//

 

[Catch95]

Thanks for the replies.

Greg - is that the same as Rich is saying - that it would be transmission gear oil that is leaking?

How big a job is it to replace those seals?

Thanks

Mark

 

[greg_g]

Not transmission fluid either. And if you actually ARE using tranny fluid in that tractor, don't. Use gear oil. At least that's what should be in your front differential and drive hubs; typically 80W90 gear oil. Same stuff as should be in the shuttle/creeper box, the transmission box, and the rear differential.

And based upon what I've read so far, I believe it's a job that you should have done by a mechanic. Four manuals usually come with these tractors;
1. operations & maintenance, engine
2. parts engine
3. operations & maintenance, tractor
4. parts, tractor
The mechanic will benefit greatly from #4 when doing this job. Do you still have yours?

//greg//

 

[20 20]

Okay Rich Waugh, and the others are correct that IS NOT hydraulic oil it should be gear oil as stated. It is not a hard fix, just messy go to Ranch hands site he has a picture by picture fix for this. I had to replace the felt seal{same as what your showing in your picture} on mine so while I was at it I replaced all of the seals per Greg G diagram. The fix itself is basic and IMO simple, it does take some time because of the mess.

 

[Rich Waugh]

Catch95,

I'm still a bit confused here: you say the front axle assembly is where the fluid is showing up, but at the same time you say that you keep having to replace hydraulic fluid in the power steering. I think you really need to thoroughly clean the whole front end assembly and then start it up and see if you can actually determine the real origin of the leak. If the leak is form the front axle, it will be (should be) gear oil, and would require disassembling the front axle assembly to replace all the seals shown. A tedious job but not terribly difficult if you can read the diagrams and have experience with general mechanic work. If not, hire it done.

If the power steering is the source of the leak, then things may be simpler to fix. Could be a loose fitting, a leaking hose, or a seal bypassing in the steering cylinder. Or your loss of steering fluid (hydraulic fluid) could be a separate and unrelated problem - the axle could be leaking and the steering fluid loss could be from a bad pump seal or the other issues I mentioned. How is your engine oil level? If it is going up while your steering fluid is going down that would likely indicate a leaking pump seal passing fluid into the engine sump. One more thing to check.

90% of all mechanical work is diligent diagnosis - the rest is mostly just changing parts. The place you have to start though, is the diagnosis.

Rich

 

[greg_g]

Um, not all JM204s even had power steering. And even then, take another look at the opening photo. Isn't the hydraulic pump is on the other side of the tractor?

//greg//

 

[Rich Waugh]

Yes, the pump is on the other side, but the hoses for the steering cylinder are clearly shown in this view. Thus, a leaking hose, fitting or cylinder seal could be responsible for the fluid observed and the fluid loss the OP mentioned.

I stand by my suggestion to thoroughly clean the whole front end and then try to determine to *source* of the leak. Doesn't matter where the pump is, or even if has one or not - locating the source of the leak is important to diagnosing the problem.

 

[Catch95]

Many thanks for your thoughts. I had a look at the Ranchhand site which was great. Will clean it up and have another look.

Certainly not losing engine oil, but I haven't checked the transmission oil level. Will do that next week when I'm back up at the farm. I definitely think it is coming out around the area with the felt seal that Greg mentioned.

Problem I have here is getting parts - not a good supply in Australia yet so I tend to still get from the US. Pain to start working on something and then wait a ten days for the parts.

Will let you know how I go

Cheers

Mark