1466 steering one way only

[MiddleOwl]

I bought a 1466 from a farm auction about 2 years ago. when I purchased the tractor there was a hydraulic hose running from the left side of the of the tractor right under the power divider back to the rear hydraulic outlet. I asked the older farmer that was selling out what was going on here and He told me that sometimes the steering would lose prime and you had to reprime it with the rear hydraulics. I drove the tractor for almost a year before I had the first problem, I plugged in the hose and hit the rear hydraulics and I had steering again. this has went on for time to time for the last year or so. but now I can turn the wheels to the left with no problem but when I try to turn right the pump just growls and nothing happens if I hit the right brake most of the time the wheels will turn to the right but not always. I have tried to find a local repairman that knows about the old 66 tractors but either they are to young or they are JD people. any ideals of what to try

 

[Janicholson]

That sounds to me like a mechanical binding in the axle components ((uprights or spindles) or the linkages from the cylinder to the arms on the spindles. I would start by jacking (and blocking it up) to see if the issue requires weight on the tires to happen, then start looking at linkages. Jim

 

[MiddleOwl]

Thank You. I will give that a try ASAP and see what happens I had not thought about a mechanical binding problem I was looking for hydraulic problems.

 

[Mule Meat]

Could you disconnect the tie rods and check for free movement of the cylinders piston to make sure it is not bad or the steering gear?

 

[Jasmine750]

I'm not a mechanic by trade, but I do have some experience with older machinery quirks like this. It sounds like your issue could be related to either the steering control valve or possibly the hydraulic pump itself struggling under load, especially since it only seems to act up in one direction. Sometimes these older 66-series tractors can develop internal leaks within the control valve, which can cause erratic steering.

 

[MiddleOwl]

Thank You Janicholson. you were right when I jacked up the front end of the tractor the left front spinal slid down about 3/4 of an inch then I turned the wheel and everything worked like it was new. so my next step will be to tear into the front up right because I would guess there is a bearing out or something close to that. Thank You for the help

 

[BarnyardEngineering]

Thank You Janicholson. you were right when I jacked up the front end of the tractor the left front spinal slid down about 3/4 of an inch then I turned the wheel and everything worked like it was new. so my next step will be to tear into the front up right because I would guess there is a bearing out or something close to that. Thank You for the help

Thrust bearing failed. Hopefully you haven't been running it like that so much that you've damaged the spindle and the knee.

 

[Janicholson]

Thank You Janicholson. you were right when I jacked up the front end of the tractor the left front spinal slid down about 3/4 of an inch then I turned the wheel and everything worked like it was new. so my next step will be to tear into the front up right because I would guess there is a bearing out or something close to that. Thank You for the help

You are welcome. Jim