Hydraulic fluid in Crankcase. Lose Power steering too

Willy Wonka · Dec 19, 2017

I was hoping that I might be able to get some help with my tractor. So I was using the tractor and noticed that I was losing the ability to turn. So I filled the reservoir that goes to power steering and then it was good for maybe 20-30 minutes. So this happened like 3-4 more times and then I noticed big streams of fluid on the ground. Since then I crawled under the tractor and there doesn't seem to any major leaks coming from hoses but it looks like there is a bunch of hydraulic fluid in the crankcase. I think what was happening it was getting sucked in from the power steering and then overflowing the crank and spewing out on the ground.

I saw some other posts of people having hydro fluid in the crank due to a bad shaft seal to the hydraulic pump. It seems like this could be the problem but why would I be losing power steering and not any other function such as the loader? Are there potentially multiple problems?

Anyways... I was looking at the hydraulic pump and I was little confused. (I"m hoping to add a picture tonight)

1. Are larger lines typically for the return?
2. Looks like there are three sections to it. Could one be the main pump then connect to the power steering pump.

Any thoughts/help is appreciated!

Fallon · Dec 19, 2017

Yes, big hose is suction.

Many machines have stacked pumps. One for steering & brakes. 2nd for loader, 3pt & everything else. Otherwise there is a priority valve to divert part of the fluid to the steering & brakes.

It's more likely the pump is pushing fluid into the crank case than it being sucked in. But it's almost assuredly comming from that pump. Need a rebuild on it or a replacement.

Willy Wonka · Dec 20, 2017

You mean rebuild the power steering and the portion that connects directly to the engine?

mcfarmall · Dec 20, 2017

Hydraulic pump shaft seal leakage is the only way for hydraulic oil to get in the crankcase. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.

Willy Wonka · Dec 20, 2017

Just to confirm... And I want a t-shirt too... no need to worry about the power steering then?

Willy Wonka · Dec 20, 2017

Any advice on replacing the shaft seal?

RandyT · Dec 20, 2017

The only place that the hydraulic fluid can come into contact with the engine/crankcase is the hydraulic pump. After the fluid leaves the pump it never returns to the engine

oldnslo · Dec 20, 2017

Willy Wonka said:
Any advice on replacing the shaft seal?

Replacement of the seal is usually pretty straight forward, pull the old seal and press the new one in. The bigger and more important question is, why did the shaft seal fail? Groove wore in the shaft or is the pump getting worn causing excessive leakage into the seal cavity? All the gear pumps I have worked on have the shaft seal chamber vented to the pump inlet so in theory it is running in close to a vacuum condition and should not leak externally.