Ford 3000 Power Steering issue

[SHS]

I have a 1968 (?) Ford 3000 with front loader that I just purchased. I noticed te power steering was not woring but decided to take a chance on it. I checked the fluid and it was quite low. Still did not work after adding fluid. I discovered that with the front wheels off the ground it steered very well with te engine off. When running it is extremely difficult to turn the wheels. It feels like the right and left is fighting against each other. I noticed a newer cylinder had been put on the right side, so thinking the lines might have been reversed, I reversed the lines. When the tractor was started the steering went from right to left continuously very rapidly. I believe the pump is working to have this kind of force. I reversed the lines back to where they were.

Is there an adjustment or directional valve somewhere that needs adjusted or replaced. Help would be appreciated. Thanks, Sherman

 

[souNdguy]

my guess is the pump is shot from running with no oil..

soundguy

 

[SHS]

Thanks for a quick reply soundguy. The fluid was low but not out. I could touch it in the holding tank with my finger, which was only slightly lower than where the fill indicator hangs down fron te small chain. I suspect the pump until I reveresed the lines on the cylinder, and the force was tremendous as it automatically steered back and forth. Since I posted this I found the location of the valve assembly. Would the valve assembly cause this?

 

[CCWKen]

Hmmmmmm. I don't show PS on a 3000. Could be an add-on kit with the loader.

Check the pump level again. If it went down, you might have to bleed air from the cylinders/lines or the front seal on the pump is leaking into the crankcase. Start by moving the steering full left then full right. Don't force it against the stops. Check fluid level and fill if needed. Do this a couple of times then see if that helps.

If it didn't, you'll need to pressure test the pump with a new filter. If the pump checks out, the steering valve is suspect.

[b:affd93087a]Hydraulic fluid under pressure is VERY dangerous. The usual safety disclaimers apply. Use caution.[/b:affd93087a]

 

[souNdguy]

I don't have a 3000 or a ford with assist cyl's to run out and check.. however.. if they are DA cyls.. I'd remove the 'drop/retract' line from them, and then pressurize the 'lift/extend' side and see if there was considerable leaking past the packing.. if so.. it can cause weak power steering... Might also suggest a pressure test of the system as well.

Have you changed the filter?

soundguy

 

[SHS]

No I have not. I just found out yesterday that there was a filter in the resevoir tank under the hood. I plan to do that next. What is puzzling me is it steers easily with the wheels off the ground and the motor off, but as soon as the tractor starts it takes all your strength to move the steering wheel. It feels like the power steering is trying to cut left and right at the same time. I do appreciate your insight.

 

[RickB]

"Hmmmmmm. I don't show PS on a 3000."

You aren't looking in the right place. many, but not all 3000's had factory power steering.

 

[Ultradog MN]

You have the older type with the external tank.
I've only messed with the newer style with the integral pump/tank. I believe the steering column is the same however.
I have taken apart a couple of the hyd blocks where all the lines connect in the steering column. They have a bunch of springs, balls and plungers inside that direct the oil to the appropriate lines as the wheel is turned.
One I took apart had been groaning and working against itself and found that water and crud had gotten past the upper seal and basically gummed up all the plungers, etc.
I dissasembled it, washed it out with lacquor thinner and polished whatever I could with crocus cloth before reassembly. I also put a new upper seal in and one bearing. I have used that tractor for 2 years since then and the steering is working very good.
If you look at how hard it is to find used parts for these PS systems and how terribly high a new block is - they are available at CNH - you will be willing to take a methodical approach to fixing yours like I did.
Email is open.

 

[SHS]

Thanks for your input Ultradog MN. I feel like it is in the steering colume in the control valves / block but I am only guessing. I value the opinions of the experts on this forum and that is why I posted the issue. I wanted direction before I started dis-assemblying either the pump or steering column to get to the block. I very much appreciate you taking the time to respond to the issue. If it is the valves in the steering column as you suggest, I will take the same approach as you did. Thanks again.

 

[souNdguy]

Do also check the filter though.. chances are that if the prev owner did no maintenance on the steering column.. he did none on the filter either..

soundguy

 

[sotxbill]

if it runs all the way as described, the bottom bearing have become displaced in the steering box.. there are 13 balls that simply run in a groove and are not caged like a normal bearing .. if they are displaced, the steering valve drops down a bit and feeds the hydraulics into a permaneant turn... to the right if I remember correctly. so someone decided to hook oneside up reveresed so the two cyls cancel each other out.

I would say your pump is probably somewhat good but you need to run more tests carefully to see whats going on.. pump pressure should be around 700 lbs on that model... get a manual, carefull look at how the bottom half of the steering shaft floats up and down from the top half based on turning pressure left and right on the racks and how this minor movement allows the valve to raise and lower a bit to turn on flow to the external cyls... then see why its dropped if thats the case...

 

[SHS]

Thanks Sotxbill. I plan to tackle this in the next few days and will post the results, hopefully favorable. Thanks to EVERYONE for all the valuable input.

 

[SHS]

Update: I disassemblied the steering and removed the PS control box. Everything looks brand new and I saw no issues. I was beginning to remove the rest of the steering box to check the bearings at teh bottom and happened to think that I should have called the previous owner and get info on steering. He said the steering worked great until he broke teh front axle and replaced it. When the axle broke it broke the end off the left left PS cylinder (the end where the lines connect). He had the end welded back on and thought there was just air in the system that was causing the problem. I wish I had called him before I spent all day tearing the steering column apart.

I now have this pressing problem. All the plungers and springs felll out and I do not know which hole they go back in. Three of the holes I think take two smooth plungers and a spring go in each of three holes and the forth hole takes the two plungers that house the ball bearing (in te hole with the ball bearings touching each other). Does anyone know if this is correct and which hole the plungers with the bearings go? Also any though as to if I should replace the cylinder with the end welded on or is it possible these lines are reversed? The most important issue though is getting the tractor back together, so if anyone knows how and where the plungers go I would appreciate it.

 

[SHS]

Final update: After spending all day tearing the tractor's steering apart and putting it back together, I reveresed the lines on the cylinder the previous owner had welded and this fixed the problem. It nows steers with one finger. Live and learn. Again, thanks to everyone for the valuable advise.

 

[SHS]

Just a note for anyone experiencing the same issue in the future. The directional valve on my tractor had a total of 3 springs, 6 barrel plungers, 2 ball bearings and two cup plungers. The 2 cup plungers and the 2 ball bearings go in the lower hole in the directional valve. The cups face inward with the ball bearing in the cups. The other 3 holes each contain 2 barrel plungers and 1 spring with the spring being in the middle.