801 Power Steering

[Aford]

Long time reader, first time on the board. I have an 801 Ford that has never left the farm. Last fall I put new seals in the PS pump as it was leaking at the shaft. I refilled the resevoir with PS fluid. This tractor sits a lot, used for cutting wood, plowing gardens and etc. Yesterday I fired it up and had virtually no power steering. Pump sounded growly and the steering got better as I took it down the road with the RPMs up. Steering got worse when I idled it down to park it. Any ideas? Just sitting too much?
Have a great day.

 

[Dean]

"[P]ump sounded growly...." I assume that you checked the oil level.

Filter in place?

Your symptoms point to low pump pressure most likely due to wear and/or internally leaking PS cylinders. Neither are uncommon with these 50+ year-old machines.

Dean

 

[Aford]

Cylinders rebuildable? Is there anyway to make a definate determination?