Steering catching in 4wd

[yamrpt]

L3540 hydro with 300 hours on it. I'm noticing in 4wd turning the wheel there is resistance like something is being caught internally.
Almost like the wheel lock of a car with no key in it for a brief second.
I don't recall it doing it in 2wd or doing this when it was newer. It's very annoying.
Front axle was a qt low.
Front R4s were way over pressured, 42 psi when I got it, I took it down to 34 long ago, but manual says 20psi

 

[deminin]

L3540 hydro with 300 hours on it. I'm noticing in 4wd turning the wheel there is resistance like something is being caught internally.
Almost like the wheel lock of a car with no key in it for a brief second.
I don't recall it doing it in 2wd or doing this when it was newer. It's very annoying.
Front axle was a qt low.
Front R4s were way over pressured, 42 psi when I got it, I took it down to 34 long ago, but manual says 20psi

"Front Axle was a quart low"....This might be your best clue. Jack up the front end and slowly turn the tires...listening for any unusual noises, or feeling any "grabbing". If the axle lube was low, there is a chance that there may be gear damage.

 

[Buckgnarly]

That's binding, and it's bad. Were you on a grippy surface by chance? Problem is the front axle wants to turn a different radius than the rear when turning, and in 4wd they are locked together..something has to give and you feel binding, bucking, as the front axle turns at a different rate than the rear.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Ithink you are losing power steering for those instants. I think Kub uses a priority valve for P/S supply. I weould have that valve checked AFTER 1st making sure your hyd oil level is good.
larry

 

[yamrpt]

All fluids are good. No idea where the axle oil went as there's no wet spots.
I used it again today and confirmed it also does it in 2wd in fields.
Don't remember if it does it while moving, it's mostly when turning at a standstill.
Maybe I'll just drain some axle fluid and look for debris
I recall awhile back when I asked a dealer if I could use mismatched tires and like reciting a commandment she sternly said it would destroy the 4wd system.
So I'm wondering if the fronts being at that high of a psi broke something like mismatched tires would

 

[LD1]

Check and see if any of your steering linkages or tie rods are bent.

 

[Fallon]

Ithink you are losing power steering for those instants. I think Kub uses a priority valve for P/S supply. I weould have that valve checked AFTER 1st making sure your hyd oil level is good.
larry

My L3200 does that from time to time. Usually on a sharp turn at lower throttle and only lasts for a second or 2. Pretty sure i'm just getting ahead of the power steering pimp/circuit. Happens in 2 & 4 wd I'm reasonably sure, but i haven't taken notes when it happens. Just a dead spot when moving the wheel a lot & things return to normal in a few seconds.

Hopefully that's your issue, not something expensive.

Try cranking the wheel hard & fast while at an idle & compare the results to at higher RPM. Cold hydro fluid will probably make the problem more obvious.

 

[ritschner]

I agree with Fallon that it is in the pump circuit and not the front axle. I believe there was an issue with the hydraulic return hose on some units being crack and drawing outside air causing hydraulic stumbling and steering issues. As far as the front axle fluid level, on initial fill it will come out of the fill hole indicating it is full but will drop a enough to take at least another quart once the front drive assemble starts rotating and allows the fluid to displace the air in the lower hub assemblies.

 

[LD1]

I believe there was an issue with the hydraulic return hose on some units being crack and drawing outside air causing hydraulic stumbling and steering issues.

I dont think that was ever an issue on the GrandL's. Just the 2800 and 3400's