Power steering loosing power

JClark · Feb 4, 2004

Dang - no luck. I cycled it about a dozen times, pausing for a few seconds at each lock. Sure does steer easy with the wheels hanging in the air though.

Question: should the steering wheel continue to turn past the lock? As I was holding just a little pressure at each lock the steering wheel would continue to turn.

DAP · Feb 5, 2004

At this point, I'm kinda hoping its not something so simple. Too many folks in the loop on this one! Tough clam ta swallow.

This needs to get resolved! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jrlichina · Feb 5, 2004

No luck, rats. Well they are going to have to check out the system doing pressure and flow checks. That's the only way to find out if there is an obstruction or malfunctioning part in the system. They should be looking specifically at the power steering pump since your tractor has a tandem pump(one for steering and one for implements). Then the priority valve then the steering cylinder.

JClark · Feb 10, 2004

Update:

Over a week has passed since the visit from my dealer and the regional manager and no word from either. (Surprise, surprise.) I made another call to CCC and left a message with my advisor.

Attached is a picture of the tractor in my test setup.

For ballast there is:

Frontier BB1060 box blade 495#
4 suit case weights 168#
2 channel iron 84#
Total ballast 747#

Load in FEL:

Barrel 39#
Chain 8#
5.4 cubic ft water 340#
Total load 387#

Note the non-stock rear tires. They are 33.5" tall. Parked where you see it, with me in the seat, engine running at 2000 rpm, I can turn the steering wheel about a half turn in either direction before I feel a lot of resistance at the steering wheel. With some effort I can turn about another quarter turn of the steering wheel. The engine does not slow or labor at all when I attempt to continue turning.

The rated capacity of the loader at the lip of the bucket raised 59" is 781#, so I am at about half load. Recommended ballast is 750#, so I am a few pounds shy of that.

So is it the connection between the seat and the steering wheel, or is something else not right?

jrlichina · Feb 10, 2004

Your front tires look a little on the low side for air pressure, what are you running them at? That tractor should steering with little to no effort with that load even if the tires were a bit low. Have you tried another tractor at the dealer to compare yours with? I still think there is a problem in the steering system. My BX2200 with 500 lbs. in the loader an NO ballast turns with ease with one hand(heck even a few fingers will do it).

bigpete · Feb 10, 2004

Yikes /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

A BX with 500# in the loader and no ballast might become a two-wheeler pretty quickly!

jd110 · Feb 10, 2004

I think it is ridiculous that they suggest taller tires are causing the problem. If that is the case, then every time you go down a slight incline the power steering would fail. It sounds as if your problem is either a bad relief valve or something leaking internally in the system. You mentioned that the steering wheel would keep turning at extreme right and left turns. How much did it turn? How much pressure were you applying to the wheel? There is a spec on the amount of allowable turning at the stops. I am guessing something like 5 turns per minute with 60 inch pounds of force with the oil hot. If it exceeds that, you are bypassing oil in the cylinder or the valve. I hope this helps.

del · Feb 11, 2004

JD 110 Good point on the slope perspective. No matter WHAT
ballast you have on the back you can easily get the tractor
snout down doing something. I know I have with a load in the
bucket.

And another point, the power steering shouldn't fail with
a load in the bucket anyway. One of the Kubota brochures
shows a small Kubota with a load of firewood in the bucket
and a trailer full of firewood behind it.

Tongue weight maximum on the drawbar is fairly light so
that is only going to be a small part of lifting weight
off the front.

The tires in his pic DO look low though.

I've always thought the maximum pressure should be used if
a loader is going to have anything in it.

Will be interesting to see what they come up with.

/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gifDE L/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

JDgreen227 · Feb 11, 2004

Early last summer I used my 4210/420FEL to spread road gravel on my drive, filling the bucket full enough to make the rear end light (no weights or implements on the back) and I could still easily steer lock to lock at 1200 rpm sitting still.

Something has to be wrong with your JD, and in my opinion a problem also exists in the pea sized brains of the SM and RM. With all the buck passing and wasted time they would have been WAY ahead replacing the steering pump to learn if that is the cause. Jeez.....

JerryT · Feb 11, 2004

Since the JD steering system is entirely hydraulic and when (in your experiement) you met resistance, there are only two choices. Insufficient hydraulic pressure or mechanical binding in the steering hardware. If it was mechanical binding the hydraulic pressure would build and strain the motor. You have a hydraulic problem. The difference in the larger rear tires could only be considered a problem when your moving with 4 wheel drive on but even then you should see some engine lugging. The tire size difference could cause a problem, but it won't be in steering.