JD 318 Steering

[DanW]

Recently purchased a JD 318 w/50" Deck, 54" Blade and Blower attachment all for $2K everything in great condition......Problem I found shortly after using the Tractor is the Steering, while driving in straight line on Road is the wheel likes to clock around in both direction (CW/CCW) and I constantly have to correct my steering either left/right and depending the wheel likes to clock aroun in circle. I've adjusted the front tires so they're toed inward about 3/16" total, checked the ball joints and they seem ok but probably could be replaced but the condition there in I don't think they're the cause of the tractors steering wheel to clock around in a circle or is this natural to happen ? Any help/suggestion as to what might be the cause would be appricated.

I was wondering if there was a centering mechanism in the hrdraulic steering unit itself that might need adjusting but frmo all that I have read I haven't found any info pertaining to that being the case....So I've come to a dead end sotospeak.

 

[beenthere]

Welcome to the TBN.
I assume when you say the "wheel" you mean the steering wheel.
And that steering wheel will not stay in some "center" position so you can hold it and go in a straight line. It will always rotate away so I suspect that is what you mean by "clock around". It is normal, but maybe over time and some wear, it becomes more apparent and does it more than when new.

 

[DanW]

Yes, when I talk about Wheel I'm referring to my Steering wheel....So I should probably have the hydraulic Steering unit rebuildt or put a rebuilt unit in tractor..... I was hoping there was some type of adjustment somewhere that could take some slop out or reduce the steering wheel fmor clocking aroun in circles. Whats odd is I use a FEL Heavy equipment Cat at my PT Job on Weekends and that has Hydraulic steering and the steering wheel doesn't clock around like mine on JD 318....Can't be that much difference between the 2 types of steering mechanism can there ?

 

[DanW]

Just curious how important is it to have that Screen that fastens to the bottom side of the tractor/engine if you don't use the Tractor to cut grass....I've seen what this part looks like and its nothing but a small frame with some screening attached and the cost for one is alittle outrageous IMO and nothing I couldn't have welded up and put some SS Screening on, which I might do if its necessary to have.

 

[beenthere]

Can you give an idea how fast this clocks? Sounds like it is much faster (more) than norm..

If you turn the front wheels all the way to the left (or right), and lightly hold the steering wheel to keep them there, how many revs per minute does the str wheel move? or how many seconds to get a complete rev?

Check out the 318 threads in the John Deere Lawn & Garden forum... might find something more there.

 

[bigtiller]

What you are describing is perfectly normal. That is what hydraulic steering does. Power steering, like on your pick-up is completely different.

But as benthere suggests, if it is clocking too fast, something may be wrong. Do the test he suggests and let us know the RPM.

 

[DanW]

No I'm not talking about the Steering clocking as you described, when I referr to clocking (Steering wheel) when I might be driving my Tractor down the road in straight line on flat pavement then I have to move the wheel to left/right then from there on it continues to clock around while adjusting the wheel. I can't hold the wheel in one place while driving on pavement for longer than few seconds before the wheel will start to clock around as I adjust to keep tractor going in straight line. I hope I described that so its understandable. I asked another person who works on JD/others and he thought maybe the hydraulic Steering unit may need to be replaced/rebuild, that was his thinking on the problem...

 

[beenthere]

I think we are talking about the same thing, and if you test it as mentioned, you can let us know how bad it is.

Normal to:

"I can't hold the wheel in one place while driving on pavement for longer than few seconds before the wheel will start to clock around as I adjust to keep tractor going in straight line"

If you will let us know just how much "clocking" it does, then we can get a feeling if it is out of normal for you.

I have a spinner on my 425, and to go in a straight line while mowing or "down the road", then the spinner knob is always moving around the "clock". Maybe a revolution in a minute or two, but I've not timed it.
I thought you could make the calculation by turning the front wheels all the way in one direction, and keeping light pressure against the steering wheel to see how much it "clocks" when the front wheels can't move, but the steering wheel does move.

Bear with us, and we can maybe help you through this.

 

[bigtiller]

No I'm not talking about the Steering clocking as you described, when I referr to clocking (Steering wheel) when I might be driving my Tractor down the road in straight line on flat pavement then I have to move the wheel to left/right then from there on it continues to clock around while adjusting the wheel. I can't hold the wheel in one place while driving on pavement for longer than few seconds before the wheel will start to clock around as I adjust to keep tractor going in straight line. I hope I described that so its understandable. I asked another person who works on JD/others and he thought maybe the hydraulic Steering unit may need to be replaced/rebuild, that was his thinking on the problem...

Once again, I agree with Ben, I'm like 99.9% sure we are all talking about the same thing. We just need to know how fast the "clock" is moving. I would be more concerned if it wasn't clocking.

Oh, and don't worry too much about it being broken, just about everything JD makes steers this way.

 

[DanW]

Yes I have a spinner on my wheel as well, I'll be using the tractor today and I will test what you suggest to see how long it take before it clocks around in one direction or the other CW/CCW depending on which way I have the tires turned.