4710 - Broken steering cylinder

[mrjasonl]

OUCH! While clearing some property, it seems I caught the power steering cylinder on a stump and broke the ram (yes! I broke it right in half!) In checking with my Dealer they tell me that Deere does not have one and it could be "several weeks for them to get one". He did say that a couple dealers back east may have one and gave me their number. The price he quoted me was $525 + shipping and tax. This cylinder is a welded, sealed one piece unit and has to be replaced as a whole.
My question is - does any one know if there is anything special about this cylinder? It appears to just be a double acting hydraulic cylinder. $525 seems a bit steep for such an item. Is there any reason I could not go to my local hydraulic shop and get one of a similar size and have my ends welded on? It seems I could get a heavier duty and more "serviceable" one this way for less money and in a much quicker time. Please tell me if I'm missing something here or if there is something unique about it that would prevent me from doing this.

Thanks in advance!

 

[johnk]

Thats seems like a very high price to pay. Not to start an arguement or anything but here is the price for a Chinese one.
I'd shop around a bit and see what happens. Type in steering in search and it comes up $149.00.
http://www.chinaimporters.com/ciparts/.

 

[BillyP]

Do you have insurance?

 

[mrjasonl]

I do have insurance, however there is a $500 deductible. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[JDgreen227]

IMO, that is rather expensive....my old 318 had a leaking power steering cylinder and the JD parts guy told me it was not repairable, a new one was $190 plus tax. I checked around and found a used one at a shop that had a 318 with a blown motor they were selling parts off...$35.

If I were you, I'd check into buying a used cylinder. There are bound to be places that sell used tractor parts you can contact.

 

[Ole_Hickory]

<font color="blue"> In checking with my Dealer they tell me that Deere does not have one and it could be "several weeks for them to get one". </font>

Deere should be able to have any of your JD parts overnight(so they say).
I am suprised to hear that you would have to wait so long.

That cylinder is not on my JD4400,I have the old style steering arrangement and I am glad I do,there are no cylinders exposed like the newer style front axles. I had to talked to a service tech at John Deere and he told me the cylinders were vulnerable to being damaged on stumps.

I wonder if any of the other John Deere parts warehouses around the country would have the cylinder ? I would imagine though the dealers inventory tracking sytem would indicate if there were any in stock anywhere.

 

[mrjasonl]

JD said any other part they can get no problem, however the steering cylinder is a "special item" they have to go back to the vendor to get. Hmmmmm makes me wonder what other parts are special. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have the cylinder at my local hydraulic shop attempting to be fixed. Sitting home crossing my fingers!

 

[BillyP]

<font color="blue"> JD said any other part they can get no problem, however the steering cylinder is a "special item" they have to go back to the vendor to get. </font>

Just curious but did John Deere say that or your dealer?

 

[zuiko]

Sounds a lot like the 3rd SCV I had put on my tractor when I got it. If I remember right the dealer got the kit, but it didn't include the valve itself. They tried over and over again to get one from Deere until they were told to go out and buy an aftermarket one. I think it had a JD part number and everything.

 

[mrjasonl]

Got a little more info today - cylinder can't be fixed by local shop. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif So back to JD
According to my dealer, Deere changed vendors on these cylinders and made some minor changes etc. This is why they have been on back order nationally for awhile. He claims they are sending them out and he should be able to get ahold of one in the next week or so. I still think this is an unacceptable amount of time to wait for a part ( this tractor is a 2004 model). Even worse I am mid-job and will now have to rent one to get it to a reasonable point until mine is ready. I am very dissapointed with the wait time for this part.