• Hello.
    In order to download file attachments or view image attachments in full size, you must be registered/logged in and have a level 2 member account.
    No worry, its all for free!
    For more details - click here.

info Converting a UR2 Crystal to orbitrol steering

Netherlands Renze

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 5, 2003
Messages
4,018
Location
Laag Zuthem
First name
Renze

Machinery:
1976 5718
1978 5718 35kmh: Work in progress
1967 3011
Last year i converted my mates Ursus C-385A (same as Zetor 8045) to orbitrol steering with a kit from Hydrauliktop Slovakia

cryst 45_800x800.jpg

The steering box going sour is a known issue with the Crystal. This tractor was bought brand new in 1982 and has served the farm up till 1993 as prime tractor, and then another 10 years as a second tractor. The last 20 years it has seen little use, mostly on water pump duty because it was a bitch to steer.

The original steering housing has to be removed, for which the hood and radiator have to be removed too. Then a bracket bolts into the place of the steering housing which holds the orbitrol. I replaced all U joints in the steering column at the same time, because they had suffered from being operated without power steering, even though the tractor saw limited use because of that

20220616_173239.jpg

Once the orbitrol is in place, its time to weld the bracket to the axle, because the older axles dont have a machined protrusion to which the bracket bolts: In order to do this the best i could, i cut the bracket smaller so it wouldnt protrude so far over the axle edge, and chamfered the corners to get a gradual transition, to avoid stress concentrations on the corners.

I sawed a wedge to fill behind the bracket to work as neat as possible, and not just shit the holes full with weld: I want a professional job.

I drained the axle oil, ground the paint away and preheated the cast axle with a blow torch. Then i welded several thin beads around, to reduce the instant heat input. Then ground all welds smooth, both to make it look factory, as well as to avoid fatigue cracking on the weld root.
I see many Eastern European guys just weld that bracket like its a fence in a pig sty, but thats not how i work.
20230923_160708.jpg

20230923_160719.jpg

20220616_173159.jpg

Then it was time to connect the hoses: The pressure line on the original system ran through the oil reservoir because theres the pressure relief, set at 120 bar. This one is to be bypassed because the orbitrol has a built in pressure relief set at 140 bar, which obviously has a spring that isnt fatigued so it really delivers 140 bar.

In the end, the tractor has been on frontline duty again this spring, running the feed mixer for 3 months continuously.
IMG-20221215-WA0001.jpg
IMG-20230318-WA0001.jpg
 
Hello Tommy,

would be nice when you bridge the time Renze needs to answer with uploade some pictures of your Zetor 8011 and writing some words about you. Best place for this would be there:
Thanks :)
 
We're do you buy this kit
There is an Irish company sell them and ship around the world.

 
I put an orbital unit onto a 8045 some years back, came off a 12045 that going on a one way trip to a scrapyard after it had broke in two at the bell housing. The owner had bought a complete steering unit from a combine and it had no ram, but was super 1 finger little steering. Made my 8045 a joy to steer too.
 
The owner had bought a complete steering unit from a combine and it had no ram, but was super 1 finger little steering. Made my 8045 a joy to steer too.
Ive heard people putting an orbitrol in one, to feed the original steering housing... never seen it in real life though..
 
Yes that's the way this was done too. The orbital unit was mounted under the compressor and they had taken off the shaft and worm part off the steering unit and blanked off the end. The pipework was the same as a 2wd with hydrostatic steering. I don't know who made it up for the owner of the 12045 but it was lovely on my 8045.
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Back
Top