YM1700 Hard Steering

[SailorBob]

My 1700 is getting hard to steer. It steers fine but the wheel has a lot of resistance. I greased all of fittings but it did not seem to help much. Does anyone have any ideas what the problem might be? It’s like the old saying about power steering. It takes all the power I have to steer it.

 

[FleetMan]

Have you jacked up the front end to get the tires off the ground and tried turning the steering wheel? That may help you isolate the source of the binding.

 

[careyo63]

Water in the steering column and Steering gear box would be a good one. If it has been in there awhile it will rust and then it would be hard to turn. Esp. on a 1700. There's not much to get it in a bind on the front end. No mention of a Loader so that's were I would look hard at.

 

[SailorBob]

No loader. I will jack up the front end and check that first if the weather ever clears. I’ve never been a steering box before. I have the shop on CD somewhere if I can find it...

 

[SailorBob]

Manual that is. I bought if from Hoye a long time ago

 

[SailorBob]

I finally got around to jacking up the front end. Just as much resistance off the ground. I ran out of time or I would have disconnected the Pittman arm but I suspect the problem is in the steering box. Does anyone know if there is a drain on them. I would like to drain the box and put fresh oil in it.

Hoye sells the steering box for $400. I cannot afford that right now. I have recently retired. Looking at the parts diagram there appears to be a plug in the top to add oil. I would have to remove the fuel tank to get to it if that is the case.

I removed the tank a long time ago when I rebuilt the engine. I’m no as wrenchy as I used to be.

Any insight would be appreciated.

 

[winston1]

Might watch Aarons videos on the steering for some insight. How-to Video Section

 

[clemsonfor]

There is no drain in the box. I would pull the top and flush with diesel. Suck out all of it that you can then blow the rest out stuffing rags around the top. Then fill with fresh oil. This would be after you fixed the bearings or whatever was making it hard to turn.

 

[duanew1]

I would really recommend talking it out and taking it apart. Mine was filled with grease. I cleaned out the grease with diesel fuel in a bucket and put it back together with new seals and gear oil.

 

[SailorBob]

It looks like I’ll be pulling the steering box. I can decide whether to order the rebuild kit or the whole assembly after I see the what I have when I get it apart.