Power Steering in 90 Minutes!

Kernopelli · Jan 23, 2014

Just noticed this old post (#19) when rereading the whole thread.

Oldmax said:
That is the same system that was used on some Ford cars in the 50's & 60's the valve was built in. If you could find one in the junk yard might be able to adpt to tractor.

The ford valves on many of the 60-late 70's models seem to be one of the best ( common and cheapest) examples I have found so far.
I think the kit R.Davis sold was simply one of these automotive valves mounted on a steering cylinder. Maybe that was already obvious to some.....I can be a little slow

MountainMan22 · Apr 25, 2015

Is this Rick Davis out of business? said web page was unavailable.

KubotainNH · Apr 28, 2015

Last I heard his brother had taken over. If the phone number and address in the prior page get you no where then I would assume the business is gone.

California · Apr 28, 2015

Kernopelli said:
The ford valves on many of the 60-late 70's models seem to be one of the best ( common and cheapest) examples I have found so far.
I think the kit R.Davis sold was simply one of these automotive valves mounted on a steering cylinder.

Today 50's ~ 60's Ford components might be the best alternative to add power steering on any tractor.

Long ago I had a Willys Wagon that an owner of a body shop had modified in his spare time. 292 Ford V8, and the air conditioning and power steering also transferred over from a late 50's Ford. The steering components were a simple bolt-on similar to the Yanmar PS kits. This worked well.

finishguy · Feb 17, 2016

It is a shame that the guy that sold the actuator and cylinder assembly on the original post stopped selling them. I am putting a new sector shaft and and ball nut and shaft in my L185 kutbota and power steering is next on the list.

KubotainNH · Feb 18, 2016

Yeah, it's a simple unit to deal with. I still need to do some mods to mine but it's way better than none. Some people have pulled the cylinder from another brand of tractor. Maybe something like this would work. Ford Tractor Parts HTF3A500 Power Steering Conversion Assist Kit Cylinder FORD3 | eBay

Travelover · Feb 18, 2016

Seems like it might be easier to get an electric power steering unit out of a junked car than to try to gin up a hydraulic one, particularly if you have a small pump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuShsA_cqNk.

California · Feb 18, 2016

Travelover said:
Seems like it might be easier to get an electric power steering unit out of a junked car than to try to gin up a hydraulic one, particularly if you have a small pump. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BuShsA_cqNk.

That's a good point. I'm not real happy with the power steering (Yanmar-USA option) on my YM186D. Digging into a gravel pile etc with the loader, its natural to go into the pile until the engine starts to bog down - and at low rpm I can't raise or roll back the bucket to ease up on how big a bite I'm taking. I think the diverter to the PS is stealing hydraulic force. My larger YM240 (manual steering) has the identical hydraulic pump and a 5 ft bucket, compared to the 4 ft on the little tractor, and its hydraulics work about the same at any reasonable rpm.

Think of how a Caterpillar operator eases up on the bite he's taking, raises the blade, as the tractor slows down. I lose that ability to ease up, as I lose rpm. Not ideal for a little tractor that is set up primarily for landscaping, moving dirt around.

I love the little YM186D but I think this dealer add-on PS kit isn't up to the top quality of the rest of the tractor. Also - Yanmar parts remain available for this early-80's tractor, but the American PS kit supplier is long gone and there are no service parts for it. A Ford-based kit could be maintained nearly forever. I may eventually have to replace the kit with a manual-steering drag link.

KubotainNH · Feb 19, 2016

I have mine plumbed in series after the loader. I do lose power steering when I'm using the loader but not too big a deal. My plan is to mount a belt driven pump from a small foreign car with a remote reservoir so it's independent. Others have done something similar here at TBN. That may be a workaround for the diverter valve issue.