woodlandfarms
Super Member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2006
- Messages
- 6,118
- Location
- Los Angeles / SW Washington
- Tractor
- PowerTrac 1850, Kubota RTV x900
So it of course could not have happened at a worse time or location.
I was plowing our mile long road (York Rake) as a christmas eve gift to all those on the road (we do not get snow just pot holes). Was turning around and I heard a pop and I could no longer steer. Well, of course, the back of the machine is against a hill and the front of the machine is on the edge of a 40 foot ravine. And I am cutting across the road sideways. I can still tram and the arms go up and down so I start looking for the ruptured hose. And there is none. Not a drop. ARGH. So I go the the worse case, my accumulator or my steering valve. But that analysis does not matter because I am jamming the road. I call my neighbor, the diesel mechanic, and he says we will tow it home. Okedoke. So I back my but up the hillside and disconnect the 8ft York Rake (Did I tell you how hard they are to move when not on a tractor). Neighbor shows up, we chain up and I use my power (no towing) and he uses the truck to steer me. It was slow, but it worked out really well considering the windy dirt road I live on.
Up at the house, I discuss with him my scenario, what i feel has failed and why. He says I should start simple, and check my steering cylinders. I am thinking that is not the case, worse case is that the seal has failed but there still is some steering available.
Well he was more than right. Turns out the nut came off the plunger and the whole rod seperated. So my one cylinder was in complete bypass and that prevented the other one from pressurizing.
now the problem is that the plunger, and the nut, are at the bottom of the cylinder and won't come out with my version of coaxing, I guess I will head to the hydraulic shop on monday, I am sure they have a way to fish this out without much drama.
Oh and the nut came off because (I think) that the last time I replaced the seals I did not use any loctite or whatever on the nut (I was told not to). GUess that was a mistake.
I was plowing our mile long road (York Rake) as a christmas eve gift to all those on the road (we do not get snow just pot holes). Was turning around and I heard a pop and I could no longer steer. Well, of course, the back of the machine is against a hill and the front of the machine is on the edge of a 40 foot ravine. And I am cutting across the road sideways. I can still tram and the arms go up and down so I start looking for the ruptured hose. And there is none. Not a drop. ARGH. So I go the the worse case, my accumulator or my steering valve. But that analysis does not matter because I am jamming the road. I call my neighbor, the diesel mechanic, and he says we will tow it home. Okedoke. So I back my but up the hillside and disconnect the 8ft York Rake (Did I tell you how hard they are to move when not on a tractor). Neighbor shows up, we chain up and I use my power (no towing) and he uses the truck to steer me. It was slow, but it worked out really well considering the windy dirt road I live on.
Up at the house, I discuss with him my scenario, what i feel has failed and why. He says I should start simple, and check my steering cylinders. I am thinking that is not the case, worse case is that the seal has failed but there still is some steering available.
Well he was more than right. Turns out the nut came off the plunger and the whole rod seperated. So my one cylinder was in complete bypass and that prevented the other one from pressurizing.
now the problem is that the plunger, and the nut, are at the bottom of the cylinder and won't come out with my version of coaxing, I guess I will head to the hydraulic shop on monday, I am sure they have a way to fish this out without much drama.
Oh and the nut came off because (I think) that the last time I replaced the seals I did not use any loctite or whatever on the nut (I was told not to). GUess that was a mistake.
