steering drift?

[gray]

Is it normal for a tractors steering wheel to slowly have to be turned to keep the wheels tracking straight?

A post on the JD forum reminded me of this observation.

Example: Going down the raod at about 15mph. To keep the wheels tracking straight, I have to slowly turn the steering wheel around and continue this process to stay on track. Are all power steering set ups like this? My cars and trucks aren't.

This may be a classic stupid question but I have to know.

 

[beenthere]

It's normal.

 

[B2400]

You didn't mention what tractor you are experiencing this with, but this is common with orbital steering found on the larger tractors.

 

[DAP]

It is also possible that you have unequal air pressures in the front tires. Sumpin to check.

I gotta leaky valve stem in a machine and if I take my hands off the wheel, it want's to go right back into the barn.

 

[slowzuki]

somewhat common but it is a fault in the orbital valve. Shouldn't be happening in a new tractor. No it is not tire air pressure.

 

[gray]

Folks,

It is a L48 Kubota and it's new. About 50 hrs.

I have read now that it may be normal but in one thread it stated it should not show up in a new tractor?

Should I call the dealer and inquire?

 

[BillyP]

<font color="blue"> Example: Going down the road at about 15mph. To keep the wheels tracking straight, I have to slowly turn the steering wheel around and continue this process to stay on track. Are all power steering set ups like this? </font>

I have a JD 4610 and mine isn't like that.

At first I thought you were talking about the steering wheel not coming back to the same place every time. Mine doesn't do that but, from what I understand, that's common.

 

[slowzuki]

In short, for a tractor that new the orbital valve is probably unbalanced or missadjusted. Your orbital is either not holding pressure in the cylinders or it is diverting flow to one of the cylinders when it shouldn't. Either way it is not functioning correctly.

Sometimes they can do funny things like spin the steering wheel in a feedback type orbital! Orbital PS systems don't function like a typical PS system.

Ken

 

[BillyP]

Hey Ken,

If that were the case, could he raise the front tires off the ground (with tractor running) and the wheels would turn on their own? Or would that be too simple?

 

[slowzuki]

That would be the case but I doubt it would happen under no load like that. The only other possibility depending on the steering cylinder set up is the seal is gone and the machine will always not want to hold a straight line.

I'm assuming at 50hr the cylinder is pristine, but ya never know /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Ken