3600 losing power steering fluid?

[AlanBarrett]

No external leaks to mention. Oil level is over full. Could it be?
 

[Sean in PA]

[Bern]

Yes. Pull the pump apart and look at the bearings. If they are excessively worn, you'll need a new pump. A seal kit will only be a temporary fix.
 

[3000OH]

Just happened recently on our 3000. Took it apart and, sure enough, the seal had worn a groove in the shaft. The pump gears and body were still in good shape so took the shaft to an industrial machine rebuilder for what I thought would be weld-up-and-lathe-cut-down job. Instead, they carefully cut a much wider (but not deeper) groove into the shaft, then filled it with a plasma-sprayed ceramic, then machined that down to flush with the rest of the shaft. They said that welding small diameter shafts like this one too often results in slightly warped shafts that then beat up the new seals. Said that this ceramic would outlive me and the rest of the tractor. Has worked great so far. Wasn't cheap but, with all new seals, was about half the cost of a new pump.