Power steering

Tul01 · Feb 24, 2009

OK, I know we have hydraulic power steering on our 5740C. For the last couple months the steering has been abrupt and unpredictable similar to either air in the system or low oil. There are no unusual power steering pump noises like it is low on oil. My question is I have found what appears to be the power steering pump on the front left of the motor. But I can't figure out how the oil is checked, there does not appear to be a sight window or a dipstick on the cap. The manual is not helpful, surprise and says only to use transmission oil. Can I assume they mean trans-hydraulic like used at the other end? It is getting to the point I am starting to get concerned, the steering makes it a full time job keeping the tractor on the road at road speed.

Brent

JackMentink · Feb 24, 2009

Tractors like these use the hydraulic/transmission fluid also as the pwer steering fluid. Some of hydraulic fluid that is used for you 3 point hitch or rear remotes is routed to the power steering cylinders to help you steer. Check the hydrualic fluid under the seat. It has a dipstick on your montana. Check if the level is within the useable range. My guess is yopu are probably low. This also could affect any hydrualic operations

Tul01 · Feb 25, 2009

Thanks Jack, my hydraulic fluid is right up as per the dipstick at the rear of the machine(main hydraulics). What I'm calling the power steering pump is on the front of the motor and has a little oil can symbol on the rubber cap. It really looks like a power steering pump on the outside, however when you open it up and look inside, it just seems to go into the bowels of the motor. Is this perhaps simply a second access to adding oil to the motor? If so it would sure make it easier after I change the oil to add it there instead of on the top at the rear of the valve cover where I have to climb in to add more! Either way finally determining what this "pump" is for may be a blessing. Can I just bleed my steering cylinders? This did start happening after we had to have the tractor split. My dealer is 4 hours away and doesn't have any on his lot to compare right now.

Unclebuck257 · Feb 25, 2009

The dipstick on our 5740C's for our hydraulic fluid is in the very rear of the tractor, to the right of the 3pt, almost at the top, looking at the tractor from the back. All you'll see is the curley Q of the dipstick handle sticking out from what appears to be the tractor frame. That area gets a lot of dirt and debris around it when pasture mowing etc., so be sure to clean off the area when/before going to check hydraulic fluid levels. That avoids any dirt falling in and mainly allows you to find the dipstick handle, which is easy AFTER the first time, but could be interesting he first time. The same fluid runs ALL the hydraulics on our 5740C's and the power steering too.

JDeerekid · Feb 25, 2009

If I remember right I think that there is 2 fill caps for adding motor oil, the last time I looked on my 4340C. They should be similar. When I get a chance I will go check my tractor to see.

JimmyBean · Feb 25, 2009

Hi Tul01,
The rubber cap with the oil can symbol is the easy way to add oil to the engine. The others are correct. The main hydraulic pump supplies the pressure to aid in steering. If the dip stick is in the correct zone, you have enough oil in the system. It could be air in the cylinders. You would think if you hold the wheel to both extreams for a few seconds, it would purge itself of the air. I would try cracking the fittings about a half turn and cycle the steering completely in the direction that is feeding oil to that hose. This will fill the cylinder and purge any air. Have a helper turn the steering wheel while you watch the fitting for bubbling air. Be careful not to get oil in your eyes, when the air stops, tighten the fitting again. Do the same for all four fittings one at a time.
I have had my 5740C since May of 2005. I have not had this problem with mine. Does your loader, three point and any attachments hooked to the remotes work ok? If so, I assume it is just some air in the power steering cylinders. Because you were split recently, this is highly possible. Good Luck and have a great day.

Jim

Tul01 · Feb 25, 2009

Thanks guys, I went and had a closer look and what I had assumed was the power steering pump is as you have called it, an easier oil fill. My first clue should have been no belt drive to that section.

. I am going to have to try to purge the cylinders, after 4 hours snowblowing this morning it seems to be getting worse(or at least more aggravating). Hopefully that works. Oh well at the minimum I have an easier way to fill the engine oil now

. Oh and I realized a picture probably would have helped so now I have a picture too.

Brent

Texasgreen · Feb 27, 2009

My 4940C steering did the same thing. I changed the main hydraulic/transmission filter and my steering was back to normal. I had only 255hrs on my first filter before I had to replace it. This filter is under the tractor by the right rear wheel. Change it out and there is no need to bleed the steering system, it will self bleed its self when the tractor is running.

Tul01 · Mar 25, 2009

Thanks Texasgreen, we had changed our filter once already, but it has been 150hrs, so I changed it again. At the same time I found a leak at the bottom of the steering shaft where it enters the hydraulic valves. I tightened up the leaking plate and together this seems to have fixed the problem to a large part. I was also wondering if anyone knows if having the rear tires over filled can cause some of these problems at road speed we had ours filled last summer at a local shop and I noticed over the winter that with temperature changes you could see frost all the way to the top of the tire,not a line approx 2/3 up as I anticipated. I will probably adjust this spring once the weather is decent- I took the snowblower off last week to level a load of gravel that was delivered before the restrictions are on the roads and this morning I woke up to a 3' drift in front of the house( after meltoff was 2" above my driveway for the last 2 days

Brent

JDeerekid · Mar 25, 2009

Texasgreen said:
My 4940C steering did the same thing. I changed the main hydraulic/transmission filter and my steering was back to normal. I had only 255hrs on my first filter before I had to replace it. This filter is under the tractor by the right rear wheel. Change it out and there is no need to bleed the steering system, it will self bleed its self when the tractor is running.

Hey Texas. You better get under that tractor with some black touch up paint. I see alot of rust developing. I have only had my tractor for a year know and driving down our over salted roads has done a number on my tractor. That is my mission this week to take the blower off and touch up the paint on that and hose down the tractor and touch up the paint on it.

Oh by the way still really really like the tinted windows on your machine. Some day I will get it done to mine