Tires Power steering tank

[jgreen]

Hi Folks,

I have a 2004, Branson 2810 and while pusing snow yesterday, I noticed the power steering tank is starting to crack. No leaks yet but only a matter of time. I did a quick search on the power steering tanks and some of the older post mentioned a update kit to eliminate the power steering tank. Is there a kit to update the tank? I no longer have a Branson dealer close by to ask and with the tractor being a 2004 and with 280 hours, I doubt it is under warranty. Good tractor and very happy, just need to take of this item before it sprouts a leak.

Thanks,

 

[Zork]

Here you go. Good luck.

 

[Zork]

straight up.

 

[jgreen]

Zork,

Thanks for the information. I hope to work on it this weekend providing it warms up a bit. No heat in the shed!!!!!

 

[Zork]

You bet. I got that document for mine but my tank has shown no sign of deterioration yet. Also, I see it was available as an upgrade "UNDER WARRANTY" if I had read that I would have gotten it done years ago. Let us all know how hard it is. It appears the trans-axle will need to be drained, somewhere around 9 gals. Good luck!

 

[DavesTractor]

Hi Folks,

I have a 2004, Branson 2810 and while pusing snow yesterday, I noticed the power steering tank is starting to crack. No leaks yet but only a matter of time. I did a quick search on the power steering tanks and some of the older post mentioned a update kit to eliminate the power steering tank. Is there a kit to update the tank? I no longer have a Branson dealer close by to ask and with the tractor being a 2004 and with 280 hours, I doubt it is under warranty. Good tractor and very happy, just need to take of this item before it sprouts a leak.

Thanks,

Three ways to go. Replace with a plastic tank...bad idea. Replumb...good idea but a bit of work. Replace with a new metal tank, easy, maybe not as slick as replumbing, but it is simple and it will last. I think the plastic tanks are about $35 and the metal tanks about $100.

 

[raeuber]

Three ways to go. Replace with a plastic tank...bad idea. Replumb...good idea but a bit of work. Replace with a new metal tank, easy, maybe not as slick as replumbing, but it is simple and it will last. I think the plastic tanks are about $35 and the metal tanks about $100.

Bill's Tractor sells the metal tank for $86.00

 

[MarkBer69]

you don't need the tank just do the bypass for it,you can call branson for the kit or just get the part list off the info posted,and i think it was like $20.in total parts,but i would wait till you have to change you hydr filter if your tanks not leaking.and when you do it clean your screen too..good luck.if you need a parts list just letr me know..

 

[Zork]

My tank has just started leaking and is ready to give up the ghost. Time to do the bypass project.

 

[Zork]

I'm debating whether I want to do the tank or the bypass kit. Online, the tank information says that modification (slight?) may be necessary and for that money, from the company, it should be a correct fit. Second is the idea of the bypass kit and the counter guy I talked to never heard of it. The tractor has several vulnerable fittings below already; do I want to add another one?

Any thoughts?

 

[jgreen]

Zork,

I did the conversion (eliminated the tank) and it worked out well. I purchased all of the parts from a local parts store. The toughest part was tapping the threads on top of the filter housing/adapter I did remove the housing/adapter. I think the filter housing/adapter is made of zinc and for some reason it gave me some issues with getting the threads cut. I used a straight hose fitting on the filter housing/adapter instead of the 90 degree elbow. I felt it provided a better routing for the hose, personal preference nothing more. I did not use the crimped hydraulic hoses it shows in the picture. I did use hydraulic hoses with hose clamps as it appears that one hose is a supply line (low pressure) to the power steering pump and the other is a return hose (low pressure)from the power steering valve/gear. Will this cause a problem down the road? I don't think it will so if someone wants to weigh in, I welcome additional information. I did cut off the metal line where the 90 degree bend is located to the power steering pump because it provided a straighter path for the hose to the fittings. I used a mini tubing cutter and did not remove the tube from the pump. It was not difficult and I have about thirty hours on the retro fit with no issues. I did not need to remove the rear wheels to do this retro fit so you may want to take a look and decide on that one. I hope this helps.

 

[Zork]

I went ahead and replaced the tank. The new tank appears to be well built and I'd rather not have another hose below in the lower areas. Thanks for all the help.

 

[DavesTractor]

I went ahead and replaced the tank. The new tank appears to be well built and I'd rather not have another hose below in the lower areas. Thanks for all the help.

Yeah, the new metal tank is a permenant solution and is easy to install. Did you have to do a little modifying to get it to fit?

 

[MicroPilot]

I did. I had to re-drill the mounting plate holes about 1/4" outboard of thier original location to get the indentation in the tank to fit over the metal bar on the plate.

 

[Zork]

Yeah, the new metal tank is a permenant solution and is easy to install. Did you have to do a little modifying to get it to fit?

Surprisingly, no. It was a very easy repair and my plate had a foam rubber bar and no metal bar to cut. I would certainly recommend this to anyone rather than the bypass kit. Thanks for asking.

 

[DavesTractor]

Surprisingly, no. It was a very easy repair and my plate had a foam rubber bar and no metal bar to cut. I would certainly recommend this to anyone rather than the bypass kit. Thanks for asking.

Some have to be modified a little, but not all. I never have figured out why some fit right in and some require either new holes drilled or the metal bar to be trimmed a little. Either way it is easier then doing the bypass.

 

[EddieWalker]

Just wanted to thank everyone for this thread. My plastic hydraulic steering tank has been giving me issues for awhile now. I replaced it a few years ago with another plastic tank that started leaking after a few years. I fixed it, and it lasted a year. I fixed it again with two layers of plastic tank repair stuff and it lasted another year, but now it's leaking again.

I never heard of Bills Tractors before, or Branson Parts Online. I just bought the metal replacement tank for $108

Thanks,
Eddie

 

[EddieWalker]

A follow up for anybody looking for a replacement tank. Mine arrived five days after ordering it. It was well packaged, but nothing fancy. The tank is very well built and it fit perfectly without any effort or modifications. I'm very pleased and highly recommend it to anybody looking.

I went to the site Bills Tractors, which linked me to <B><font size="3">BRANSON TRACTOR PARTS</FONT SIZE><B> for the parts and then the part was shipped from bigredsonline.net

Thank you,
Eddie

 

[DavesTractor]

Most Branson dealers stock the tank as well, since the plastics tanks became notorious for failure after a few years. Metal tanks are good for about forever. Bill's Tractor is a great company. Founded by Bill and Betsy, some of the nicest folks you will ever meet.