35/202 Power steering leak

Paul007

Member
Out of the blue my 202 just started pissing out power steering fluid from somewhere under the battery that I can't see. Is there a seal that might have blown under there?

Thanks, Paul
 
Hello Paul,
Errr very descriptive. Depending on which type of power steering you have; if its the type with the actuator spool and linkage mounted at the top of the steering column its likely to be a chafed or cracked pipe.

DavidP, South Wales
 
Hi David,

Sorry about that, it just happened last night and I couldn't see a darn thing under there, the sides are flanked by the frame and all I could see was the fluid shooting down from between them. My 202 service manual (whose section is titled Manual and Power Steering Gear Housing-MF and TO 35 Tractors), says "The 35 Tractor uses a screw and recirculating ball-nut type steering gear with two pinion shaft which control the steering linkage".

I suppose you get access by removing the instrument panel? Hope you are right and it's just a hose...

Thanks, Paul
 
Yes you have to remove the instrument panel. Only a few "simple" bolts.......if you're good at standing on your head.
I think all the 202 tractors used the actuator spool type system. You should be able to see up there with a good light and possibly a mirror just to get an idea of where it's leaking from. You will have to remove the instrument panel to actually fix it though.
 
Thanks Inno,

I guess that means the steering wheel comes off fist. The 202 is out at my property, what sort of puller and size bolts do I need to bring out to get the wheel off?

Paul
 
there are steel lines for the power steering valve under the battery sounds like one has worn thru or split. it can be hard to see even with a mirror. the other possibility is it"s coming out the steering box vent and the steering valve is leaking internally. this means a rebuild of the valve including replacing seals is in order and that"s a tough repair for someone who has never attempted it before. don"t run it too long without adding fluid to the reservoir or you"ll burn out your pump
 
Thanks Rob,

I only drove it about 50 ft to my shed, put some ATF type F in and noticed the leak. This evening I went back out to remove the dash and get at it, only to be thwarted by the steering wheel. I have it sitting with a puller in tension, soaking in penetrating oil, hopefully it will be sitting in the bushes nearby when I go back out. Can't really put heat on it with the plastic, don't know what else to do to get it off.

Paul
 
That's a tough one with older steering wheels. Mine had the plastic broken from all the spokes so it wasn't that hard to get off. I am wondering if you could make/modify a puller to use some sort of straps (nylon webbing) to go around each of the spokes so as not to damage the plastic. Then you could rap on the end of the puller with a hammer and it should pop off. I have heard others say that they have had to cut it off and replace the wheel. Hopefully you have better luck than that.
 
Well it looks like replacement steering wheels are fairly cheap on Ebay. Right now I have a two piece clamshell puller bolted underneath the wheel and a second puller pulling up on that, and it seems to be getting good pressure without hurting the plastic (which has a crack in it already).
 
Got the steering wheel off last night after quite an effort. It was such a moral victory when it popped I almost quit right there. Here is a photo of the pullers I used, didn't hurt the wheel.

Next I pulled the dash up and off the steering shaft and was able to find the leaking line. It comes off the steering box and into a T, the other lines leading to the front axle. I was able to remove the line, again after some effort, without removing the battery tray, or whatever you call that piece that surrounds the steering box and looks like half the tractor has to come apart to get off. I just hope I can get a new line in there the same way.

Paul

tractorwheel.jpg
 
That's a good looking puller you got there!
Satisfying feeling when you first take one of these apart. The nice thing now is the steering wheel should come off easier if you need to take it off again.
 
Yes, and by the looks of some of the other lines, that won't be long! The line had rusted to the point of popping a pin hole. Got her done last night. The local bearings and hydraulics shop took a standard -6 brake line, cut one end off, put on the female fitting off my old line, double flared the end and lent me their line bender. It was a real bear getting it bent just right so the ends would screw on. Up and running, back to work tonight. Thanks again all for the advice.
 

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