Power steering cylinder

[Merleman]

Hello everyone this is my first post. I have 1968 ford 4000 3 cyl diesel. I have been having issues with my power steering cylinder. The power steering works good not great but after about an hour of running the tractor, the cylinder is very hot to the point where if you left your hand on the cylinder it would burn you. I have searched for answers but have not found any similar posts thats why i am making this post. I have attached a picture of the cylinder. Any help will be appreciated this is my first tractor and am willing to learn and work on it.

 

[ErnieD]

Cylinder won't make heat. Pump and relief valve will. If it was a concern to me I would purge and flush hydraulic system and refill with synthetic hydraulic oil/fluid.

 

[Jim.ME]

Cylinder won't make heat. Pump and relief valve will. If it was a concern to me I would purge and flush hydraulic system and refill with synthetic hydraulic oil/fluid.

I won't say this is his problem but a cylinder with a bad internal packing will make heat from oil being forced by the restricted area around the failing packing.

@ Merleman, touching something is not a good temperature check especially on a system that could run 200 degrees plus when working, 120-140 degrees is about all most can keep a hand on. Use a temperature gun/infrared thermometer to check the temperature of the reservoir and the cylinder after it has been running the two should be about the same. If the cylinder is much hotter it is likely a bad internal packing. If you hold the cylinder in a hard stop to make oil bypass you may even see the temperature, go up in the area the piston is at inside the barrel.

 

[Sean in PA]

Anywhere that the fluid can flow, but with severe restriction to the flow, will cause heat.