Case 580B Stearing and Brake Puzzle

[Doug Weigle]

My name is Doug. I have two puzzling problems this forum may be able to help me with.

I have an old Case 580B backhoe that I have rebuilt, but have two puzzling problems.

1. The steering on the backhoe is acting very strange and barely works. I can be sitting in idle and I turn the steering wheel and there is no response. Then after turning the steering wheel many turns, I get a response. Seems to work a little better if I have the front bucket loaded. Every once in a while, if I turn the steering wheel three or four turns, it responds...and then over responds. If I am driving it and hit a small hole, both wheels turn all the way to the limit, but the steering wheel does not spin? In order to start to attack this problem, do you think it would be wise to remove the small rams that control the steering and have them rebuilt. They are not leaking oil, but perhaps the internals are leaking and allowing blowby. Any thoughts???

2. I rebuilt the brakes on the 580B, but the braking response is poor at best. In other words, if I put extreme foot pressure on the brake petal, there is a small amount of slowing, but not anywhere near what the stopping response should be. Are there any adjustments or fixes to this situation? Your Thoughts

Also, I am working with Yesterday Tractors to get my email address changed. It originally was [email protected], but now is [email protected].

Look forward to hearing from you good guys. Thank You!

Doug in New Jersey

 

[mEl]

The symptoms with the steering sound like blown piston packing on one or the other steering cylinders. If you rebuilt the brakes with new linings on both the bands and drums and the casing surfaces are smooth clean and dry you should have decent brakes, the seals must be good and no oily moisture coating everything. That style brake is much better than the old dual disc type.

 

[Doug Weigle]

mEI...now I don't mean to be cheap, but having a "local" Hydraulic repair shop rebuild both hydraulic steering cylinders (under the machine attached to the front wheel assembly) is gonna be very expensive versus buying "new" cylinders off the internet from off market locations. Now you have given me top notch invaluable advice in the past, so I am asking for your brutally honest opinion...should I take the gamble and buy new cylinders from an off market location? BTW...These cylinders shown on the internet do not look exactly like the ones presently on my 580B (SN 5230874)??? - They have an additional tube running on the exterior of their cylinders. Mine does not have this exterior tube. Unfortunately, Yesterday Tractor parts does not have cylinder replacements for my machine with my low serial number.

Any Thoughts, Sir?

Doug in NJ

 

[mEl]

IIrc the tube type cylinder was the original design and the smooth ones came later, the cylinders are not difficult to rebuild, I cant speak for the quality of the aftermarket cylinders, your description would not be a surprise to find a piston completely off the rod, I have see this and the piston will move away from the rod and allow oil to bypass through the hole then when you turn the other way the piston will go back and seal against the rod and work in one direction, it's no good as is, why do you not disassemble them and see what you are dealing with. if the rods are not bent, I would consider resealing,.

 

[Doug Weigle]

I am telling you...you always make such good sense. I am going to remove the existing cylinders and have them rebuilt. I can't thank you enough! By the way...did the 580B have a master cylinder in the braking system? (Have been so busy...haven't had time to tear the dash apart yet, but am going to tear it down and exam each component. Thank you Sir!

 

[mEl]

Brakes on a B are entirely linkage mechanical with a pull rod thar comes out of the brake housing with adjusting nut and locknut. The Cs, were the first with hydraulic brakes, nothing in the dash pertaining to the brakes on yours.

 

[Doug Weigle]

Thank You very much