info Zetor-3340 Power-Steering Change Filter and Fluid

[Robertzetor3340]

Zetor 3340 Changing the Power Steering Fluid and Filter June 2024

When checking the Power Steering Fluid, it was white in color and so this is an indication of water in the fluid.
Note, there is a lot of water, where as some of it can be seen separated from the white milky fluid.
So the question is, how did the water get into the Power-Steering-Fluid ?
I believe, because the Power-Steering-Fluid-Reservoir is not covered from the open air and there is a Vent-Hole manufactured in the Cover-Retaining-Bolt,
water from rain and washing has entered and contaminated the Power-Steering-Fluid over the past 25 + years.
My fix for this water-contamination has been to place a plastic container over the top of Reservoir so that it will prevent this trouble.

Servicing items Used:
Power Steering Fluid: Traveller Premium Anti-Wear Hydraulic Fluid ISO 32, Uses: 1.5 Gallons (4.8 Liters)
Power Steering Filter: 93 1154

1st Unscrew the power steering fluid reservoir retaining bolt and remove the spring and the spring retaining washer.
Next pull out the filter to place it may drain the fluid out of it.

2nd Down on the left side of the Zetor, where the power steering cylinder is located and to where the left side pressure-line is attaches,
I placed a pan under the axle to catch the fluid and removed the left side pressure-line so that it would drain.
This did not drain all the contaminated fluid out, as could not see where or how to do a complete fluid drain easily.
Next, I cleaned all the contaminated fluid out of the power steering fluid reservoir and using an airgun blow out all that was able.
You will see in the pictures some of the water that was not able to mix in with the Power Steering Fluid.

3rd I reassembled the fluid pressure-line and installed the new power steering filter.
Then filled the reservoir with the new fluid and installed the spring retaining washer, spring and cover with the vented-bolt.

4th Next, I started the engine and turned the steering wheel from one side to the other several times and then shut the engine off.
Then I opened the top of the Power Steering Reservoir and saw that I still have the white milky fluid.
I repeated this flushing process two more times, which did help in reducing the water amount that is mixed in the power steering fluid.

5th I may revisit this trouble later hoping to be able to flush all the contaminating water out of the power steering fluid system.
I also saw what looked to be a weeping leak at the left side pressure-line, which has copper washers on each side of it used as seals.
Examining the copper washers, one of them had some damage, which I was able to sand down by hand to correct this imperfection.
All the metal surfaces also had some rusting on them, which I was able to clean up with a small stone.
This seems to have fixed this small trouble, but I will keep and eye on it for a time to make sure.
The working of the Power Steering has no symptoms of any troubles before and after.
Though, the old filter was bulge out where the out side metal support seam came together.
This caused me to look at why is it bulged out, (?) which I am not sure what has caused this.
The direction (path) of the flow of the fluid is taken from the inside of the filter (center) and is returned to the outside of filter,
which if the filter had collected a lot of debris would have pushed in on the outside of filter (not filter being pushed out).
Maybe, with so much water in the Power Steering Fluid and the paper filter may have soaked up with water
so that when it froze, the outside metal seam being the weakest point, had bulged out (maybe).
The old filter did not look bad (used up) and the fluid did seem to be easily passing through it.

 

[Joachim]

Uh... the oil really doesn't look good anymore. It's probably never been changed, it's just "forgotten" as long as the steering works.
Yes, there's nothing more you can do than flush it.
The damage to the filter could actually have been caused by water + frost or it was already damaged before installation.

Have you checked the brake fluid yet? If the steering oil already looks like that, the brake fluid won't look any better.

Nice report.

 

[Robertzetor3340]

Hi Joachim,
I have looked at the brake fluid and found some troubles with it
and with that said, it has had repairs by the previous owner.
Some new looking parts here and there, but the reservoir looks like it has been ignored.
I cleaned and repaired the brake fluid cap, as it had a split in it (was able to glue it) and removed the rust on the metal disk.
The order of the assembled of cap parts seem to not be proper, as the metal disk is sealing to the reservoir first then the rubber seal in the cap.
I am thinking this is not correct. I think the metal disk should be assembled first into the cap and then the rubber seal.

 

[Joachim]

Container lid, metal insert, rubber, container - that's how it has to be.

What color was the brake fluid? If you replace it, it's best to "only" use DOT 3 brake fluid.
If the fluid no longer looks like apple juice (not the cloudy kind, of course), but more like tea or black tea - then it has definitely been in the system for far too long and needs to be replaced.

I would also check what it looks like under the dust boots of the accessible cylinders, brake cylinder paste has certainly never been there and that is probably why there is rust there.

I think your Zetor has been standing in very wet conditions for a long time, either outside all year round or near the sea. The rust damage is definitely not normal.

 

[Robertzetor3340]

Hi Joachim,
The brake fluid Cap was also screwing down to where it was making contact with the top of the fluid reservoir,
which was leaving the metal venting insert and the rubber seal to not able to make contact with the brake fluid opening.
Looking through my spare o-rings I found a large enough thin o-ring and placed it into the plastic cap first, then the metal venting insert second and the rubber seal third.
This has made a proper sealing with venting with this brake fluid cap.
The condition of the brake fluid is clear looking and I did add some Dot-3 brake fluid to it.
Brakes and clutch are working well at this time, so I will move to the next servings task.