Increasingly slow steering response on my 422

[muncybob311]

I know that with just the 1 steering cylinder that the 422 probably does not respond as quickly as other models with dual steering rams, but lately it's becoming less and less responsive. Seems I am turning the steering wheel much more than needed to get to get a response. This is esp noticeable when mowing the grass and wanting to make a turn to cut around something. Is something wearing out after 1300 hours?

 

[Tchamp]

I know that with just the 1 steering cylinder that the 422 probably does not respond as quickly as other models with dual steering rams, but lately it's becoming less and less responsive. Seems I am turning the steering wheel much more than needed to get to get a response. This is esp noticeable when mowing the grass and wanting to make a turn to cut around something. Is something wearing out after 1300 hours?

I had one of my cylinders leaking around the packing and it was causing it not to steer well, also I was having to correct the steering because the machine was wandering when it was going straight. They are really simple to rebuild. You can get the kits from Terry for like 30 or 40 bucks apiece I think.

 

[ponytug]

Any photos of the cylinder?

How is the front end loader doing? (Powered off the same pump, IIRC)

Can you hear any bypassing in the cylinder?

How are the articulation joints in the center of the tractor? Well greased, moving freely?

All the best,

Peter

 

[m5040]

This may sound strange, but get a long screwdriver and hold the metal tip to the cylinder at the center of the wide part (black area). Put your ear down to the screwdriver handle (touching your ear) and have someone turn the wheel. With some experience you could hear if the cylinder is bypassing which as most people have already said, is the likely problem.
It points to this to me because of the wandering you described. The cylinder is letting oil go from one side to the other and will need a new packing kit.

Did you hit anything with the machine that could have shocked the steering cylinder? Check and see that it is not ballooned slightly around the center. That would cause the same issue and you can't fix it. Check this with a measuring caliper or something precise, we are talking thousands of an inch buldge.

Use the screwdriver tip on a known good cylinder and check the sound comparison.

 

[muncybob311]

Thanks for the responses. The loader works fine and articulation is good although it's a real bugger to get grease into the joint underneath.
I'll be checking the cylinder as noted, kinda sounds like a repacking kit is in order.

 

[SpringHollow]

I would not be able to get 1300 hours on my steering cylinders. So I think you did well.

 

[muncybob311]

So, I got the seal kit. Got the cylinder out of the tractor(that was a bit tricky in itself), unscrewed the one end and thought I had drained the cylinder. Was not prepared for the gush of oil when I removed the bottom connection. Anyways, attached are some pics. Except for the black seal, none of the others match color. As you can see there is one orange seal up toward the nut(this does not need to be taken off, right?) and it appears another one is also supposed to be under it? The seal kit looks to have some extras


, assuming they don't get installed?

I'm guessing I should refill the cylinder with oil before screwing the end on? Also, will it be necessary to bleed the hydraulics when done? The cylinder base looks to be a bit cruddy at the bottom, just use kerosene to rinse it out?

 

[m5040]

I would call PT and get the correct locations for each O ring. And since you had internal leakage in the cylinder, the one under the nut, if it leaked, would cause... a leak?

 

[muncybob311]

Yep, will be calling in the morning. Looks like there were 2 O rings under the nut and one was completely disintegrated, it's a wonder it worked at all.

 

[m5040]

It either got disintegrated when it was assembled or pressure blew through it, and that could cause a steering issue