Power steering unable to steer with full bucket and no movement. Is that normal?

[erkme73]

May just be a case of extreme noobness, but today was the first time I had the bucket filled with 1/2" gravel. It was heavy, but not enough to lift the rear tires off the ground. When I got to the point where I wanted to drop the load, I needed to inch to the left. As I tried to turn the steering wheel, I got the wheels to change direction by maybe a couple of degrees. But without moving forward/backward, they would not change the angle any further.

Is that normal? I've never had that happen before (without load) so I'm not quite sure what to expect.

 

[jmh1783]

I've had a 2000 lb tote of water on the forks with 850 lbs on the back. The steering was stiff, but it did turn.

 

[erkme73]

Well, ok, I suppose it might have turned if I had manually forced it, but clearly the assist had stalled out. I wonder if I should have just forced it...

 

[linuxman51]

it will get harder to steer with a lot of load way out front.

 

[jmh1783]

hard to judge without being there. Mine still had assist but it wasn't effortless like it is unloaded.

 

[fatjay]

I don't have a mahindra, but i've been around quite a few tractors and haven't had that issue. Might get stiff, but definitely not no movement. If you're turning the wheel, but the tires aren't turning, that sounds like there may be internal leaking, the hydraulic fluid has to go somewhere.

 

[Billrog]

Keep tires inflated to the max and if your in soft soil sitting still with a heavy bucket there's a lot of resistance doesn't hurt to move the tractor a bit when turning.

 

[mikeman1]

I think the power steering runs off teh hydraulic oil/hst oil. i wonder if raising the throttle would help move more oil for the steering?

 

[erkme73]

Good suggestions. Thanks for the replies. When it happened the steering wheel was locked - that is, it wasn't turning with the wheels not changing direction. I was at about 1/3 throttle, so I ran it up to full RPM, and it made no difference. The only thing that got it moving relatively resistance-free was forward/reverse movement (even just slight).

It really felt like it does if you try to move the wheel when the engine is off. If it happens again, I'll try to put some tail into it and see if it really offers the same level of resistance as an unpowered engine.

 

[4570Man]

As long as mine is moving it'll steer and usually never gives trouble in dirt. If I'm lifting max lift I can't steer while sitting still on asphalt. I'm not sure how your steering works, but my tractors are 100 percent hydraulic. You can't force that. Once it gives up you're not steering where you could force something with a gear box assuming you're strong enough.