445 busted hydraulic hose

[BBO]

What a mess!
I just finished mowing when I seen oil on the side of the deck.
In about 30 seconds the deck was totally covered in oil; all down in the spindles, belt etc, along with all the grass.
I painted two nice lines across the yard with the oil running off the deck.
The power steering stopped working so I knew it was hydraulic fluid.

With the deck off I found the problem.
That largest hose from the transaxle to the power steering pump is held with a hanger.
That metal hanger, normally dipped in some black plastic, had worn thru the hose.(AM115774)

My trouble now is that it's the top one connected to the power steering pump and looks to be the hardest thing on the machine to get to.
Has anyone ever changed this without removing the PS pump?
I think the steering wheel, column, radiator all has to come off, & I have never done this.
All the sheet metal looks to need to come off, and I may still have to work underneath.
That pump is up inside the frame down underneath the radiator, covered is nasty oil/dirt/grass.

I do not have a lift, but I do have a concrete floor with the front up on jack stands.

 

[Gator6x4]

What a mess!
I just finished mowing when I seen oil on the side of the deck.
In about 30 seconds the deck was totally covered in oil; all down in the spindles, belt etc, along with all the grass.
I painted two nice lines across the yard with the oil running off the deck.
The power steering stopped working so I knew it was hydraulic fluid.

With the deck off I found the problem.
That largest hose from the transaxle to the power steering pump is held with a hanger.
That metal hanger, normally dipped in some black plastic, had worn thru the hose.(AM115774)

My trouble now is that it's the top one connected to the power steering pump and looks to be the hardest thing on the machine to get to.
Has anyone ever changed this without removing the PS pump?
I think the steering wheel, column, radiator all has to come off, & I have never done this.
All the sheet metal looks to need to come off, and I may still have to work underneath.
That pump is up inside the frame down underneath the radiator, covered is nasty oil/dirt/grass.

I do not have a lift, but I do have a concrete floor with the front up on jack stands.

Never done the hose change on a 445, but have done one on a Cub Cadet 2084. I used a long extension, a flex joint connected to a crows foot. Starting the new hose back I used a long pair of hose plier, the type that have a circular opening on the end and is used to reach in and pull off vacuum hoses and heater hoses. I used a pro set used by mechanics, Harbor Freight sells the pliers. The first set of three here with the orange handles is what I talking about. https://www.bing.com/images/search?...13E70EC11128A4C484ED7D5083B22DB7E&FORM=IQFRBA

 

[beenthere]

Not sure what you are calling the power steering pump. Far as I understand, there isn't one. The pump is in the transaxle.

Maybe this broken hose is between the steering valve assembly and the steering cylinder?

Wish you well getting the hose removed and replaced.

Your woes will lead me to do some inspecting of my 4xx's to see if similar wear is happening.

 

[Gator6x4]

Not sure what you are calling the power steering pump. Far as I understand, there isn't one. The pump is in the transaxle.

Maybe this broken hose is between the steering valve assembly and the steering cylinder?

Wish you well getting the hose removed and replaced.

Your woes will lead me to do some inspecting of my 4xx's to see if similar wear is happening.

I think he is referring to the square box structure on the end of the steering column that has four or five hydraulic lines running to it. One of the lines is the main supply line from the units pump, one will be a return line back to the storage, one will be a line out to the power steering cylinder and one of the line will be a return to the steering box from the steering cylinder and one will be for another purpose if five lines are used.

 

[BBO]

.. I used a long extension, a flex joint connected to a crows foot.... I used a pro set used by mechanics, Harbor Freight sells the pliers.

Maybe the crows foot wrenches is the answer.
7 Piece 3/8" Crowfoot Metric Wrench Set

This picture was a while back, but it does show the lines connected to the Power Steering pump underneath.
This is looking up from underneath. The pump is behind the lines with the steering shaft running down.
Above these lines is the radiator/oil cooler.
The large hyd line that is busted is actually in the center.
That hanger is visible in the bottom right of the picture. The part where is cut through the line is just out of the picture.
Two lines go to the PS cylinder, and 2 hard lines that go to the oil cooler/radiator.
This hard pipe T's off feeding pressure to the deck lift valve assy.
It's a mess of lines in a small hidden place and it's danged hard to get a wrench on.
I hope to clean this up with Purple Dragon and water, then remove one of the PS lines.
Then, hoping to get that larger line off without removing the entire steering pump.

 

[BBO]

Your woes will lead me to do some inspecting of my 4xx's to see if similar wear is happening.

I sure wish I had done this already.
All you need is a new clip/hanger # AH96317. $2.54
This hose is bent and under some pressure at the hanger. It just wore the rubber off the hanger then the bare hanger cut thru the line.
I had seem oil on the deck recently, but I thought it was a PS hose o-ring leak.

For any 445 owners, check this the next time you have the deck off.

 

[BBO]

Just to help others I will post this info.
After I cleaned up the hose connections, you see a strange looking pressure plate.
These hose ends do not SCREW in at all...
You see two bolts (13mm socket) that has to come off and that strange shaped pressure bracket can be wiggled out.
All of these lines simply push in and the retainer tightens them all at the same time.
One photo shows the pump with the pressure bracket removed; the threaded hole is where the mounting bolt was.
Mine has leaked for years and I say it is a terrible design by JD.
While previously replacing the PS cylinder, I had to rotate the whole cylinder to tighten the left hose connection.

I will install all new orings and new hyd hoses, as 2 of mine are already damaged.
In one of the pictures you can see where the hanger cut thru the line.
The 2 shorter hoses go to the PS cylinder.
The larger line is the supply from the transaxle.
The hard pipes go to the oil cooler inside the radiator.
As you can see I done LOTS of cleaning underneath before I started.
So if your pump is leaking from the connections, do NOT try to tighten these hose ends; all you can do is to try to tighten the pressure bracket.
And it's likely that it's not loose, but rather it needs new o-rings. It's hard for me to believe this design ever held hydraulic fluid...
This was a hard job to do without an overhead lift, but it can be done without removing the PS pump, radiator, steering sector etc.

 

[Gator6x4]

Congratulations on a well done repair. The information you posted will also be a valuable aid to someone else who owns a 445 and one day experiences the problem of leakage in this area.

 

[beenthere]

BBO
Really appreciate the summary of your repair, and the great pics. This applies to the 425 and 455 as well as your 445.
(and as well is continued on for the subsequent models which is good to know)

Just one correction, as this is not a "pump" you are connecting to. It is the "power steering control valve".
And suspect that your repair was much simpler and easier with the push-in connectors held in by the plate design. Any leak can likely be fixed by new O-rings as you suggest.

 

[BBO]

...Just one correction, as this is not a "pump" you are connecting to. It is the "power steering control valve".

I stand corrected.
I went to a local shop hoping to get the hoses made, with no luck.
Those special ends seem to be only a JD thing.
That was bad news because I wanted the hoses built just a tad different.

When I tilt the wheel it's hard to steer so I suspect something inside is worn or need's oil at least.
But that universal and bushings is not easy to get to.
View attachment Steering-Valve_Removal_865-866.pdf

For now I'm waiting on $150 in hoses & misc parts that I ordered.