Foton 404 Steering is hard/impossible when sitting still

[greg_g]

I don't see mention of changing the filter.

//greg//

 

[Wa11banger]

You are correct, as you are aware from your past experience one of the unfortunate issues with owning a chinese tractor is the lack of dealerships in a given area. The filter on this model is in the resevior tank where you add the oil. I had to order a filter yesterday and two should be here sometime next week. I will deffinately replace it then and I plan to short cycle this oil change anyway within a 100 hours or so just to be sure which is why I bought two of them. I had already ordered a new hydraulic filter and all other filters and had them on hand before even knowing that the steering was separate from the main hydraulic system. I am slowly learning this tractor and where everything is.

Any advise on the perceived groaning?

 

[Rich Waugh]

That perceived groaning could either be the pressure relief valve in the system relieving when you get to stop and the pressure peaks, or it could be slight bypassing in the cylinder piston seals. Have someone else turn the wheel to full lock and feel with your hand on the pump and cylinders for that telltale vibration.

 

[Wa11banger]

Will do thanks for the advice Rich.

 

[Hickory Creek]

Quick question. FEL at joy stick has quick disconnects on it. If lines removed and reconnected, do lines have to be bled, and if so how?

 

[Rich Waugh]

Nope - these tractors use an open center system and will bleed themselves with a few cycles of all the cylinders.

If you disconnect the loader from the hydraulic pump, BE SURE TO HOOK THE HOSES TOGETHER ON BOTH THE PUMP AND THE LOADER! If you fail to hook the hoses on the pump to each other, you will deadhead the pump and blow it up. Hooking the loader hoses together just keeps them clean.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Nope - these tractors use an open center system and will bleed themselves with a few cycles of all the cylinders.

If you disconnect the loader from the hydraulic pump, BE SURE TO HOOK THE HOSES TOGETHER ON BOTH THE PUMP AND THE LOADER! If you fail to hook the hoses on the pump to each other, you will deadhead the pump and blow it up. Hooking the loader hoses together just keeps them clean.

Do as he says with the tractor shut off and the FEL and 3 point to release any residual pressure.

Chris

 

[Wa11banger]

Just thought I would provide an update and confess to operator error. As most troubles are in life I think I have found the source of the steering issue --- ME!

Long story:
The other day I had my son weld on some hooks to the bucket for me.. I figured it had been a little while since I had run the tractor and I wanted to fill the tank and treat the fuel for winter. So while he was taking care of the welding I started the tractor and just let it run about 900 rpm. It ran for just shy of an hour and when he was finished I hopped on and went to put the tractor back and to my surprise the steering worked perfectly! I got all prepared to grunt the steering wheel where I needed it to get the tractor out of a tight spot I had it in and it tore the yard up with ease. The wheel freely moved either direction and with little to no effort.. So quite perplexed I shut it off and started it again with the same result. Then it hit me.

The difference:
Since I am still looking for property all previous efforts on the tractor were just playing around in the back of my place tearing things up and pushing things around. I would start the tractor let it warm up for a few minutes (maybe 10 -15 dont really know) and off I went, doing whatever. The steering never felt good, I think it was the long warm up I did when the welding was going on. I think I had not been allowing the fluids to get to temp and the system was just too cold to operate well. Any thoughts?

Anyway I am more than willing to accept operator error for this one unless you all tell me that a long warm up time fixing it leads to a possible other problem.

Thanks as always guys I do appreciate all the help

 

[Rich Waugh]

It really shouldn't take a long warmup to work properly. My Jinma steering works right from the git-go. There may have just been a bit of crud in the system that finally got flushed through to the filter. Try it again tomorrow when it only has a few minutes warm up time an let us know how it works then.

 

[greg_g]

Ok, it appears your home grown flushing technique only cleared part of the steering system. There was likely some thick old fluid in the control box at the base of the steering column that has now has been circulated into - and mixed with - the fresh stuff you put in earlier. Depends upon the degree of contamination, but you might consider changing the fluid and filter again.

//greg//