TC33DA Removal and Replacement of Hydraulic Steering Cylinder

[Pastor Chris]

I have been a reader of this board for several years and learned a lot. I have now joined up so I can ask for some help fixing my tractor. While mowing the pastures the other day my wife heard a "pop" sound and lost steering. I checked the cylinder on the left front axle and the actuating rod and the cylinder would move about 1.5 inches when I held onto the end of the cylinder where the rod exits and moved it up and down. I suspect the piston has separated from the actuating rod inside the cylinder since I could find no evidence of leakage externally. I ordered a new steering hydraulic cylinder from Messick's ($686 plus shipping - Ouch! ) and it arrived yesterday. My tractor is a 2004 TC33DA 3x9 manual transmission with front end loader. I have the operator's manual but no shop manual. In addition to being a pastor, I am an engineer for the Navy and a fair-to-middling shade-tree mechanic with a pretty good set of tools. The tractor is still in the pasture since towing it would require some steering to get back to the garage. I am looking for some help and answers to some questions if possible. Will I need to drain the steering hydraulic system or can I disconnect the hoses and cap them somehow? What is the best order to do things in? Will I need to "prime" the new cylinder with fluid or will the system bleed itself once the new cylinder is on and I top off the steering fluid tank/filter and I start the tractor and cycle the steering? Any advise would be appreciated as I would like to try to do this on Saturday.
Godspeed,
Chris

 

[geblackwell]

I have a TC 40da. I believe they are similar.When I repaired my cylinder, I unhooked the hoses and let them drain in a container. When replaced, connected hoses and filled power steering tank with new fluid. This was self priming by turning the steering wheel back and forth and had no problems.

 

[Halftrack]

If you have a trailer or wagon, you can "trailer" your tractor to the shop by lifting the steering axle with the loader on the trailer and pull it behind the trailer. After you remove the cylinder, let the fluid drain and flush the system completely by turning the steering wheel back and forth, engine not running. Once the tank is empty, add new fluid and continue the back and forth, you may have to run the engine at idle, but only after connecting the lines to the new cylinder. It will take a while to bleed the air out, then top off the tank. I had over a 1000 hrs when I did mine so I changed the filter/tank at that time and flushed the system. Good Luck!!!