How to determine if Yanmar 330D has power steering

rdrexler · Sep 26, 2019

Hi all. After many years of using this site for information on a variety of tractor projects, I finally joined.

My father picked up a non-running Yanmar 330D FEL 4WD a while back for $600. After installing a rebuilt injector pump, replacing the front tires, replacing some hydraulic lines and replacing the two bucket RAMs, the tractor is now running and usable. When running the tractor it is often difficult to turn and we cannot tell if the tractor just has manual steering or whether it has power steering that is not working properly. There are not any hydraulic RAMs on any of the steering linkage like there is on a few Ford tractors that we own. I know on our Massey that the power steering is part of the steering box with hydraulic lines actually running to the steering box. Is there a way to visibly tell if this Yanmar tractor has power steering?

I did do a search in the forum but I did not find any prior postings on this topic.

Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Ron

clemsonfor · Sep 26, 2019

Do you have access to the tractor? Just look, look for the ram???

I just fully read the post. No ram equals no power steering.

rdrexler · Sep 26, 2019

Thanks for the quick reply. No RAMS = no power steering is good to know as I did not know if I had something else to repair on the tractor.

Regards,
Ron

seville009 · Sep 26, 2019

You can test it by raising the front wheels off the ground with the loader - if the steering is real easy with the wheels off the ground, then everything’s fine.

If the steering is difficult with the wheels off the ground, then you probably have a problem- maybe some steering component bent.

winston1 · Sep 26, 2019

Gearbox power steering was an option on the 336 so I would believe it was on the 330 as well. If you have it you will find hydraulic lines going down to the steering gear box.

clemsonfor · Sep 26, 2019

Well I should of said look for hydraulic lines.

YanmarFever · Sep 26, 2019

I had one without PS. I put a LOT of air in the front tires, that helped some...

rdrexler · Sep 27, 2019

Thanks everyone. I appreciate all of the info. We did determine that the tractor does not have power steering - no RAMs on linkage and no hydraulic lines running to steering box. The steering is fine with the tires in the air, so I don't think there is any binding there. When the tractor is in motion the steering is reasonable when the bucket is empty. As we load up the bucket, the steering becomes more difficult which is expected.

Regards,
Ron

careyo63 · Sep 27, 2019

Parts and Pics. are limited on the 330&336. But on the Gear box Hoye does show it on the 336 Pitman Arm which is or looks the same as my YM2000 which it's fluid filled. May want to check that. I made a turkey baster with a hose connected to it and sucked it out. It was extremely thick and milky. Which did make a noticeable difference in the steering. No FEL. either. My YM2000 was a allen head so it's going to be easy to recognize. I used Hyd.303 to fill it...

clemsonfor · Sep 27, 2019

careyo63 said:
Parts and Pics. are limited on the 330&336. But on the Gear box Hoye does show it on the 336 Pitman Arm which is or looks the same as my YM2000 which it's fluid filled. May want to check that. I made a turkey baster with a hose connected to it and sucked it out. It was extremely thick and milky. Which did make a noticeable difference in the steering. No FEL. either. My YM2000 was a allen head so it's going to be easy to recognize. I used Hyd.303 to fill it...

Which opening did you go through to suck it out?