4120 Power Steering issues

[JMER817]

I have a 2013 4120 with 104 hours on it. At about 60 hrs I started to get a "howling" noise when turning the steering wheel. It would come and go. I would also loose power steering on occasion as well. I planned on replacing the hydro fluid but was planning on taking it to the dealer for another warranty issue anyhow so I waited. (Dealer told me that they wanted to do an analysis on the oil first and that they would change the fluid under warranty) Just before I took it to the dealer (90 hrs) the power steering was going out quite often. I actually stopped using it until I took it in. The morning I drove it onto the trailer the power steering was giving me fits again. The dealer found a leaking connection at the manifold. They replaced the O ring and tighten the fitting. They drove it around for an hour, let it sit for a few days and test drove again and found no issues. (They were never able to witness the power steering issue) I bring it home and everything was fine for the first two times that I drove it (total 1/2hr). Recently went to start using it again last weekend and the power steering starting going out again but not as bad. Howling noise is quieter as well during this time. Now this issue will occur at anytime, cold, warm, at first start, after running for an hour...no rhyme or reason. I just got a copy of the paperwork from the dealer and found that they did not replace the hydro fluid as promised. I plan on replacing the fluid soon hoping that this will fix the problem. Any thoughts?

 

[beenthere]

Thoughts? Yes, get it back to the dealer with some questions for them as to why they didn't find the problem.

 

[JMER817]

Agreed. Hoping maybe a filter change will fix the problem. Dealing with the dealer was a pain in my a**. That's a story for another thread.

 

[arlen4720]

how does the fluid look? Is it milky?

 

[JMER817]

Fluid look good

 

[arlen4720]

Fluid look good

Well, I suppose a fluid and filter change won't hurt, but based on what you are saying, I wouldn't hold my breath.
There is a filter on the pressure side of the powersteering pump that isn't supposed to need servicing till 1200 hours I think. I would check that too.
The fact that it comes and goes doesn't fit with a filter problem.

 

[AKfish]

Can you "work" the steering to intentionally get it to fail? What happens when you "deadhead" the steering motor by turning the wheels to the end stop in both directions?

Does the steering motor (located just below the dash-instrument panel) make noises or can you hear noises from the 2-chamber hydraulic pump body on the engine?

AKfish

 

[JMER817]

Yeah I read in the manual about the power steering filter. I was planning on doing the complete filter and hydro fluid change anyway at 100 hrs. If it doesn't correct the problem back to the dealer. I just hate letting others work on my stuff. When I took it in last time I had them look at the common problem that I had with the tilt steering not staying in place. They fixed that issue, but when I went to pick it up the steering wheel nut was on by only 2 threads and they had chipped the paint on the left cowl. They took care of it on their dime but should not have been in that condition. This is a large dealer with multiple locations. I'm debating if I should take it to one of their other locations? You just never know who is going to work on it. I am just hoping the fluid change fixes the power steering problem and I don't have to deal with it

 

[JMER817]

Can you "work" the steering to intentionally get it to fail? What happens when you "deadhead" the steering motor by turning the wheels to the end stop in both directions?

Does the steering motor (located just below the dash-instrument panel) make noises or can you hear noises from the 2-chamber hydraulic pump body on the engine?

AKfish

AKfish, good questions...no I can't get it to intentionally fail. Just does it at random times. Drove it for 2 hrs yesterday, the noise has seemed to disappear but loss of power steering is still there.. Next time I hear the noise I will listen more carefully to see where it is coming from. I've deadheaded in both directions (quickly - did not hold it there) but didn't hear anything different. This problem happened maybe a dozen times during this period and would last for 3-5 seconds.

 

[AKfish]

AKfish, good questions...no I can't get it to intentionally fail. Just does it at random times. Drove it for 2 hrs yesterday, the noise has seemed to disappear but loss of power steering is still there.. Next time I hear the noise I will listen more carefully to see where it is coming from. I've deadheaded in both directions (quickly - did not hold it there) but didn't hear anything different. This problem happened maybe a dozen times during this period and would last for 3-5 seconds.

My JD110TLB (basically a 4610) has had steering noise and steering "pause" issues since it was brand new. The problem turned out to be in incorrectly routed hyd hoses from the steering motor to the power steering cylinder.

The hoses were criss-crossed at the point where they drop down from the engine compartment and unduly restricted the hydraulic flow to the steering cylinder.

'Course they rubbed each other and rubbed on the engine frame too. The pump and/or the steering motor never failed but the wire mesh on the hoses started peeking out from the rub spots. After changing out the hoses, my steering issues - disappeared!!!

AKfish