Steering Issue 7745

[f_farms]

Recently encountered a problem. The weather here has been cold. 0 degree at night 10 degrees during the day. Started the 7745. Went to leave the barn and tractor would not steer to the left. Steered to right and back to center fine but could steer left. Checked fluid level, it was fine. This past summer I replaced the steering assist cylinder due to leaking seals. After the replacement steering was great. No issues until now.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated

???

F Farms

 

[ixer0]

Hi

Jack it up and make sure the king pin bearings are free.
Which type of steering do you have, power assisted on the l/h side, or hydrostatic across the axle on the r/h side ?
If you have the damper ram on the axle, is it free ?

Mike

 

[f_farms]

I do have power assist on the left side not acroos the front. I raised the front with the bucket, steering was the same. It appeared evrything was free, but what should I pay more attention to? It appeared the king pins were free, I had just greased all components before parking the tractor last time.

Any help would be appreciated

 

[ixer0]

Hi

Are you saying it will no go to the left at all, even with the wheels off the ground ? Or does the power assistance not work to the left.
Just a thought, has it broken the pin under the cab on the drop arm where the short tie rod fits on ?

Mike

 

[f_farms]

When you try & turn the steering wheel to the left, even when raised off the ground it is EXTREMELY hard. When it is on the ground there is no way to turn it. Check all linkage, no sign of broken or bent parts.

 

[ixer0]

Hi

I think you'll have to disconnect steering joints to find out which part is causing the problem. (ram, pivots, steering box damper on r/h side if fitted).

Mike

 

[f_farms]

Here is the status: It warmed up into the 50's this weekend. Steering performed as before the cold spell. No issues until the temperature fell into the single digits overnight. Steering to the left was aproblem again. I left the tractor running to warm up. While the tractor was warming up I got a heat gun. I placed the heat gun so that it would blow onto the pump, located on the front of the motor, just behind the radiator. After a couple minutes of this the steering started to free up. The warmer the tractor got the better the steering got. I believe the cold air is affecting the pump.
Has anyone ever heard of this before? That tractor is equipped with a block heater. I have not been using it, but I have it connected now to see if this will make a difference. If I leave the heater connected for a length of time will this harm the heater?

 

[forterra9641]

you may have water in your oil that freezes and and makes steering difficult. change the oil and filter and see if that fixes your problem....... also be sure to use ATF oil in the steering.