Binding when turning steering wheel

[jbundy77]

Hi everyone. Just recently purchased a 2010 Kubota L3400 4wd. Was brushing hogging and noticed my steering started binding. Got off tractor to investigate and saw something had punctured the hydraulic filter. Drained rest of hydraulic fluid and Replaced filter and refilled. Unfortunately steering still binding. Figured I would use it to see if it was just air that needed to be bleed out, no such luck. Just to be clear I can turn the steering wheel from approximately 12 to 2 o'clock position with no bind then hard bind from 2 to 4 o'clock etc. I have tried with tractor running and not running wheels on the ground and off the ground and it is the same. Thinking it could be the steering shaft between the steering wheel and the gearbox specially the u joint below the steering column. Any thoughts.

 

[zzvyb6]

Fluid blockage at the pump or the return line is plugged a bit. Keep cycling lock to lock. Check oil level after every cycle.

 

[jbundy77]

ZZVYB6 I have used it enough (fighting the binding) that I have gone from stop to stop many many times. Fluid level remains full. If it was a fluid restriction would it still bind with tractor off and wheels off the ground?