Power Steering Help

[jpowell86]

Jimmy,

I think you'll find that rebuilding the cylinder will do the job for you. When you go to do that, I suggest that you have your digital camera next to you so you can take pictures of the piston and seal assemblies ans you open up the cylinder. That will give you a reference for putting the new stuff in in the correct order. (Guess how I learned this...)

The only real difficulty I've ever had rebuilding a cylinder is sometimes getting the piston back in without damaging the seals. What has worked for me is to use a small piston ring compressor to compress the seals just enough to slip in the cylinder. That and plenty of hydraulic fluid to lube it first.

It's not really too complex and, if you run into problems, you can always call Tommy at his Houston office and he'll walk you through it.

I need to do the steering cylinder on my 304, too. It still works well enough to use it so I haven't made it a priority - too many other fires to stamp out first...

Rich

Thank you for the info Rich! I really need the power steering to work. Its not fun trying to move dirt without it.

 

[jpowell86]

I got my parts Saturday from Affordable Tractor Sales. I decided to pull the pump and steering gear stuff apart to look at the insides of those. I like taking stuff apart and checking out how things work. It didn't look like there was much that could go wrong with either of those. There was a stack of washers in the cap next to the pressure line of the power steering pump. The cap there has a spring in there also. There was some sort of piston like thing at the other end of the spring. I also pulled the steering cylinder off. Is there a way to actually test the cylinder to see if it is bypassing internally like the earlier posts suggested? I have to find a spanner tool before I can actually pull the cylinder apart.

 

[jpowell86]

Does anyone know what pin size I need to get for the pin Spanner Wrench. I borrowed some from a coworker and the smallest sized he had was still too big for the holes on the 300 series steering cylinder.

 

[Diamondpilot]

To get mine apart I put it in a vise, place 2 phillips head screwdrivers in the spanner holes, and then used a 3rd large screw driver between the 2 phillips to back it out. May be redneck but it worked for me.

Chris

 

[Bob Rooks]

Take your pick

adjustable spanner - Google Product Search

 

[jpowell86]

i Tried the armstron 34-151 which was the smallest that my co-worker had and the pins were too big.

 

[Bob Rooks]

Then I would try heavy 90 degree snap ring pliers.

 

[Rich Waugh]

What I've done in the past when faced with oddball pin spanner requirements is to make a quickie out of a piece of 3/8" or 1/2" flat bar and a couple stubs of music (spring) wire of the appropriate gauge. Only take a couple minutes if you have an electric drill and a set of numbered drills. Just set a pair of divider to the centers of the pin holes and transfer that to the flat bar and drill the holes. There's no need to affix the pins in the holes since the force is all in shear.

Rich

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have also gotten them apart with a large pair of needle nose pliers. Stick the nose of them in the holes then use a large screw driver between the jaws for leverage to get it loose.

Chris

 

[jpowell86]

Got the seals all replaced. Still no power steering though. Where to go next?

 

[Diamondpilot]

That stinks. If you have seperate pumps like you said that may be the next logical place. The only other possible issue could be in the steering box itself.

I think you need the help of someone smarter than me at this point so I will leave it up to the guys with more experience.

Chris

 

[greg_g]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/2075472-post6.html

//greg//

 

[jpowell86]

Okay. What should I do now?

Things to note from previous posts
-The current power steering pump has a stack of washers inside the one cap where the spring is for the valve in there.
-Initially the power steering worked but it would continuosly turn to the left after the wheels had stopped moving.

New Things I noticed
-with the weight off the front end using the FEL. It takes a heck of a lot more turns of the steering wheel when going left then it does going right. I did not actualy count the amount of turns it took though.

If it's the pump
I'm trying to find the correct power steering pump. The parts manual that came with my tractor doesn't list a part number for the power steering pump. I got a newer part's manual from Affordable tractor sales for the 300 series. It lists part 62 in the power steering diagram as a CBT-E306. I found a CBT1-E306HL0624 on jmparts.com. That same number has a different image on parts.FarmProTractors.com. The CBN-E310 on parts.farmprotractors.com looks like it's the correct one. I'm confused. I need the one that looks like the image in the CBT1-E306 from jmparts and like the CBN-E310 from farmprotractors.com Can someone confirm what the correct part number is?

 

[greg_g]

Just realized I've lost track that the tractor under discussion is a 2430; a two-pump tractor. So ignore my previous about a priority valve - there won't be one. The numerical value assigned to Chinese hydraulic pumps is the flow rating. 306 is a lower capacity pump (in ml/sec) than a 310, which is lower than a 316, et cetera. Since the pump handles steering only, you don't really need much more than a 306. The fact it may look different on the internet, is likely due to some websites using generic photos.

Take a look at the rubber steering hoses. One of them controls turning to the right, the other controls turning to the left. Start the tractor, set the revs up to about 900, turn the steering wheel in both directions. Watch to see if any fluid drips (and where) OR if one hose jumps more than the other.

//greg//

 

[jpowell86]

The numerical value assigned is the pump flow rating. 306 is a lower capacity (in ml/sec) than a 310. You don't really need much more than a 306 if it's strictly for steering. But I've lost track here, is yours a one-pump or two-pump hydraulic system?

//greg//

Two pump system.

 

[greg_g]

I realized that too late, and edited my post while you were responding

//greg//

 

[jpowell86]

I realized that too late, and edited my post while you were responding

//greg//

The hoses don't do much of anything. When I hit the stops in either direction I can hear what sounds the be the pump trying to do something. That's all it does.

 

[Rich Waugh]

If you hear a groaning noise when you hit the stop when turning, that sounds like your pump is straining against the relief valve - i.e., it is pumping, but either not sufficient volume of fluid to do the job or things are bypassing somewhere else in the system, like possibly the steering motor itself. No offense, but is the reservoir in front of the radiator full of fluid? Sometimes the simplest things are the ones we forget.

You probably could benefit from using a pressure gauge that you could insert into the system at various places to diagnose this better. If this was my tractor I'd be calling Tommy at Affordable Tractor and getting his advice.

Good luck with it!

Rich

 

[greg_g]

When I hit the stops in either direction I can hear what sounds the be the pump trying to do something. That's all it does.

That's normal. You're hearing the pressure relief valve protecting the pump when the front wheels hit their respective mechanical stops. But now I'm confused. Originally you said the steering wheel keeps turning in one direction, but now you say it hits stops in both directions.

I think it might be wise to start over with a fresh description of the current problem.

//greg//

 

[jpowell86]

Okay. Here goes with the description of the problem now. The tractor is a 2003 Farm Pro 2430 (JM 304).

What I noticed before the steering started to act up
-I was never able to hit a stop going left but able to going right

Before it completely quit
-I had steering left but nothing to the right after the wheels were straight


It then just finally quit all together. After it quit all together I was able to then hit a stop in both directions. The only steering I have is whatever pressure I can generate with the steering wheel.


I replaced the seals in the steering cylinder yesterday. That didn't solve the problem. That rules out internal bypass of the cylinder. The old seals weren't torn or anything like that either.


Now
-More turns needed to turn the wheel to the left than the right.(No weight on the front end via lifting with the FEL)
-I hear noise coming from the pump when I hit the stops in both directions.


The resevoir is full of fluid and the lines feel as if they are warming up with the fluid passing through it. I am using AW32 for the fluid.