4200 power steering overflowing

[Dan G]

This from a previous thread, but I decided to restart it b/c it's on page 5 now and I doubt this reply will be seen. (seen here : http://www.ytmag.com/cgi-bin/viewit.cgi?bd=ford&th=466004 )

I've replaced the filter, and the pressure relief valve and seal. It had no effect. (17,18, 19, 21, and 42 parts in diagram) I see bubbles coming up from the bottom of reservoir while the engine running and the resivoir cap (off) If I steer side to side the bubbles get worse and it starts to foam/bubble over. Even if the fluid is left to go below the full mark, or even the low mark it still overflows making a mess. I do have a leak on one of my hoses on the hydraulic pistons that do the steering in the front. Would a leak in the system cause this condition?

Aside from that, there's only one more spring/valve assembly to replace.
Part 10, 12. I don't wanna just keep throwing parts at it if it's not going to fix it. In addition if I need a new pump I'd rather just replace the whole thing instead of doing it piece by piece.

Any advice?

 

[sotxbill]

did you reverse the lines going to the tank?? The return must go to the filter!!.. Did you install the filter correctly so that its sealed?? There should be a washer on top of the filter and under the sping that holds it down. This washer will help seal the filter. Does your filter have the outer cover on it with the little holes periodically as shown in the picture?? If you can see pleats expoosed, then the filter will NOT work. The cover must be in place to keep the return fluid from squirting up.

The system filters the return fluid through the filter. This is critical or it will flow/squirt out the top though the cracks and the cap.


Lastly is your pump cavitating due to too high of pressure on the safety valve. If someone set it too high it will overcome the return filter. Row crops were set higher than regular tractors.

 

[Dan G]

1. The lines are much different in size, so it's not possible to reverse them. I've just looked at it and checked anyways. According to the diagram I have it correct.


2. There is no washer, top or bottom on the filter. There are no washers pictured in the diagram. How would I know what size washers to use? rubber? o rings? huh????????
The filter has the metal cage of sorts surrounding the paper pleated core. It's brand new, and is the same size and construction that the original one was.
3. The pump is NOT cavitating.
4. The top of the reservoir is bolted down tight on top of the pictured spring and filter and is tight.

My problem is the foam! I'm guessing that there is NOT supposed to be bubbles/foam in the reservoir at all.

I can add more info/symptoms if needed. This tractor is virtually unusable with this problem because it sprays hydro oil ALL over and it burns, smokes, and makes an all out mess. It sprays out of the little weep hole on the cap of the reservoir.

 

[FL tractor guy]

If you have a leak then maybe you are sucking air when you turn to the other direction. Does the leak spray out when you turn both ways? I'm not a steering expert but I think maybe if you are sucking air then the air cannot escape fast enough and it makes it overflow. This is just a theory, maybe someone smarter than me can comment!

 

[FL tractor guy]

Also, if your fluid is contaminated or the wrong type it will foam. I have atf fluid in a 4600 and it seems to work ok. Again. not an expert.

 

[Dan G]

(quoted from post at 00:54:12 03/23/10) Also, if your fluid is contaminated or the wrong type it will foam. I have atf fluid in a 4600 and it seems to work ok. Again. not an expert.

I've got Hydaulic Oil, same as the trans. That's what the manual calls for. As far as a leek....I've got one . I guess I'll just put the time in to fix the leek, and rule that out as the problem. I don't know why I'd get bubbles if I has a hose leeking on the front end, but at this point I don't care what the cause is, I just want to fix it.

If I'm not turning the wheel, but it still bubbles, that tells me that the foam is coming elsewhere....but if I knew the answer this post wouldn't be there.

 

[forddoc]

Dan, have you rebult/resealed the pump? blown oring internal in the pump will also cause this. Kinda makes you wanna pull the hair out. Also see new hoses, were these replaced before or after problem came about?

 

[Dan G]

I bought the tractor in non running condition. The hoses in the front, I had to custom make them because they were "no longer serviced" and the originals were blown. This problem has been like this since I got it running again. What I'm thinking now is to take the pump apart and replace any seal/rings that are replaceable and fix the one hose in the front that is leaking. New pumps are 700 bucks, so that's the last option. The "control valve" is "no longer serviced" so that's out too.

 

[sotxbill]

just relooked at the diagram AND YOUR PICTURE..

YOU HAVE THE RETURN LINE IN THE WRONG PLACE!!!!!!!

FROM THE PUMP IT MUST GO TO THE BOTTOM FITTING, NOT THE SIDE FITTING!!!!!!!!

Move the return line and your problem will go away.

 

[Dan G]

You're right, according to that diagram the middle one goes somewhere else, I'm guessing that is the one that goes to the steering column. Do you know which one is send, and return, and whatever else the 3rd hole is? I'm looking at the steering diagram, and it's unclear which one goes where. The kicker, is that the 2 hard lines line up perfectly where they are now. Since I've never had this tractor running until now, and I cannot find the original pics of the tractor before I split it, and I have no pics of that side of the tractor. I'd actually have to bend the hard line a lot to get it to the bottom hole, which doesn't make sense to me. It couldn't have been together wrong from the get go, right?

 

[Dan G]

See this image. It shows the two side holes going to the pump, and the bottom hole going to the steering column. That hose is just a normal hose with clamps , IE no pressure. I dare say that I believe that the first diagram is mismarked, or perhaps for another model. The bottom hose comes up INSIDE the filter, and the two hoses on the sides go straight thru the side of the reservior.

 

[Dan G]

I decided to yank the pump, and pull apart the pump...seen here.

Some of the o rings look tired and flattened. The rebuild kit is 120 bucks for not much of seals.

I've decided to redo the pump, and fix that one leaky hose that I'm sure isn't helping matters. I probably won't be getting the parts till late week.

Dan in PA