Power steering

[Squiddly]

Hi, hope someone can help me with this. I've got a BX2200 that I had a line leaking to the steering so I decided to switch out all 4 lines. The power steering was working when I started this
now it doesn't. I have a WSM so everything is hooked up correctly to the controller but no power steering. I have picked up the front end with the loader and turned the front axle back and forth
to the stops thinking that I had air in the lines but still no cigar.
Any help would be greatly appreciated

 

[BeezFun]

I assume you've checked fluid level...

 

[Squiddly]

Yeah already checked, I cracked the lines at the controller and ran tractor still no power steering

 

[rlsmith]

How about cracking the lines at the cylinder. Any noise when turning the steering wheel. Is the three point hitch and mower lifting and lowering. You should need to add fluid also.

 

[Soundguy]

i agree.. changeing all lines on a small tractor / ps system may have virtually drained it of oil. might take many sump top off's and holding against lock in both directions and topping off to get ps back.


soundguy

 

[Squiddly]

Yeah I did all that, also changed filter thought it couldn't hurt. I've kept an eye on oil level have kept it topped off. The mower deck raises and lowers fine and the fel works like it should. I haven't put a gage on the controller but I cracked the lines, one at a time to the right and left side of front axle with the front end picked up with the loader, and turned the front end to the stops and the pressure coming out of those two ports seems small

 

[Soundguy]

old filter didn't come apart did it?

 

[kuboman]

Air in the lines! Just keep working the steering wheel. Try cracking all the lines at the same time.

 

[Farmerford]

I am not familiar with your particular tractor, but I suspect it has an orbital steering valve. The steering wheel is connected to the spool valve inside the orbital valve body (the names for these parts are not uniform) through a centering spring. The valve admits hydraulic fluid to the work ports (going to the steering cylinder) only when the spool valve resists the turning force of the steering wheel sufficiently to overcome the centering spring tension.

Resistance by the spool valve comes from both the viscous drag of the oil in the valve and resistance to the gerotor turning by the steering cylinder. With no steering cylinder connected or with air in the lines, the only resistance to the spool valve turning is the viscous drag of the oil in the valve. If the centering spring is relatively strong, the viscous drag of the oil alone may not be sufficient to overcome the spring tension. Since there is no oil in the gerotor (because the work ports are open), the steering wheel is probably turning the gerotor as well through the torsion spring, but there is no "manual" pumping of oil by the gerotor (as when the engine is off) because the spool valve has not shifted against the torsion spring as it must to admit oil to the gerotor.

In many cases, if you connect the orbital valve to the steering cylinder, and then move the cylinder manually to purge air from the hydraulic lines so that the gerotor (work ports) part of the valve will be filled with oil, you may well find that the valve functions properly.

Another trick is to disconnect the lines at the steering cylinder and hold ends up as high as you can. Then pour hydraulic fluid into one of the lines while turning the steering wheel in the opposite direction. That may let the geroter in the steering motor pump oil into the cavities. You can tell if the fluid level in the upturned hose goes down. Keep doing this until the oil comes out the other line. Then connect the lines back to the steering cylinder without losing any more oil that is necessary. With luch, the steering motor body will have enough oil in it to move the valve when you turn the wheel.

 

[Squiddly]

No the filter came off in one piece, wasn't that old. As far as pouring oil into the lines manually are you talking the supply line or the lines going out to the front axle?
and thanks for all responses I really apppreciate it:thumbsup:

 

[Soundguy]

i'd crack fittings at eh cyls and lay a rag on them and keep going lock to lock and filling the reso...

 

[Farmerford]

Pour into the lines going from the steering valve to the front axle, when they are disconnected from the front axle. This will get fluid into the output section of the steering motor.