Kernopelli
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2006
- Messages
- 2,207
- Location
- Carterville, Illinois
- Tractor
- Mitsubishi MTE2000D, Dig It 258 Mini Ex, Deere Z930A ZTR
My tractor has manual steering which is no problem if I don't have my FEL on but just the weight of the FEL makes a huge difference in steering effort, much less with a full bucket of material. I have looked at power steering kits but always shelved the idea after adding everything ($$$) up. As some here know, I've just gone through a steering box issue and am certain it is the long term effect of having my loader on 90+ percent of the time.
I have searched Ebay several times for orbital steering valves and they can be had fairly cheap with a little patience. Particularly, I have seen tht Ebay is a good source of cheap valves from the old J.D. lawn tractors like a JD 318. Is there any reason that one of these valves wouldn't be able to be used on a larger tractor? I have searched the internet trying to find the 318's hydraulic flow and pressure without success but seems it might be compatible to my compact since the 318's were hydrostat, power steering and FEL compatible which leads me to think their steering valve might be designed for enough flow/pressure for my purpose. $50-$100 for a valve and steering column/shaft would certainly bring me closer to jumping into this project. Any ideas or suggestions?
I have searched Ebay several times for orbital steering valves and they can be had fairly cheap with a little patience. Particularly, I have seen tht Ebay is a good source of cheap valves from the old J.D. lawn tractors like a JD 318. Is there any reason that one of these valves wouldn't be able to be used on a larger tractor? I have searched the internet trying to find the 318's hydraulic flow and pressure without success but seems it might be compatible to my compact since the 318's were hydrostat, power steering and FEL compatible which leads me to think their steering valve might be designed for enough flow/pressure for my purpose. $50-$100 for a valve and steering column/shaft would certainly bring me closer to jumping into this project. Any ideas or suggestions?