question Zetor 5245 & Zetor 7745 cold steering issues

[wbenchfarms]

Have been having some issues with both my Zetor 5245 and zetor 7745 not steering in cold weather. If below about 32 degrees, the 5245 will only steer right, and will not go left past center. Once the tractor runs for 30-40 minutes and warms up, it is fine. The 7745 is tough to steer any direction. Any suggestions?

 

[diyfarmer]

Have been having some issues with both my 5245 and 7745 not steering in cold weather. If below about 32 degrees, the 5245 will only steer right, and will not go left past center. Once the tractor runs for 30-40 minutes and warms up, it is fine. The 7745 is tough to steer any direction. Any suggestions?

You may empty the steering oil and warm the oil before you go driving and make sure the valve is not sticking with ice.

 

[wbenchfarms]

I've thought about that, and I've thought that maybe the ATF is too thick. Had some issues on the 5245 hydraulics when it was cold, no hydraulics until it warmed up.

Thought about flushing the steering system. Any pointers?

 

[diyfarmer]

I've thought about that, and I've thought that maybe the ATF is too thick. Had some issues on the 5245 hydraulics when it was cold, no hydraulics until it warmed up.

Thought about flushing the steering system. Any pointers?

Hydraulics not working till the oil warms up is not uncommon in tractors and in some makes the steering would not work either that uses the same oil al round.

the red power steering oil I would imagine could be warmed up if you put it in a steel drum in the oven, If you want to flush it I would drain the oil jack up the front fill it with the warm oil and rotate the wheel and put in new stuff also check the filter.

 

[wbenchfarms]

Both tractors probably need the steering filters changed. Where are they located?

 

[diyfarmer]

Both tractors probably need the steering filters changed. Where are they located?

The filter on both those tractor is in the same place, its inside the power steering oil tank that's in front of the radiator beside the air filter under the bonnet.


do you not have the tractors indoors when the weather is so cold ?

 

[wbenchfarms]

I thought the filter was in the tank. The 7745 is usually in the shed. Depends on the 5245. It's the tractor I usually feed with so sometimes it sits out. Doesn't matter if it's in or out though, as the shop is not heated. Same steering issue until it warms up.

 

[diyfarmer]

The 7745 is usually in the shed. Depends on the 5245. It's the tractor I usually feed with so sometimes it sits out. Doesn't matter if it's in or out though, as the shop is not heated. Same steering issue until it warms up.

I thought having them indoors would help from getting too cold. I always have my tractors in and they never have this problem, of course the weather never gets as cold as you.
You may get thermal underpants for it.

 

[wbenchfarms]

Here lately it sure has been colder than normal. First time about about 20 in about a week. We've had below zero and 8-10 inches of snow for the past month. Makes me not want to come out of the house.

 

[diyfarmer]

Oh I know that feeling, when it's raining and cold and the tractor heater takes for ever to warm up.

 

[Renze]

Using engine or transmission oil can cause this.

ISO VG 21 is prescribed, but it can only be bought on special order. So most commonly used is ATF oil, its also thin but thinner at cold temperatures

 

[diyfarmer]

If you had a waste oil blow heater it would warm up the shed, we have one in the workshop and it throws great heat out, might save you having to run the tractor to warm as long

 

[Renze]

ATF is thin as water even at minus 20 C. Just get rid of the sticky gear oil or ISO VG 46 hydraulic oil users often falsely put in these systems. It makes a day and night difference.

 

[diyfarmer]

Putting gear oil into the steering systems as alterative to red steering oil is not good idea. the system is not able for the thick oil.

 

[wbenchfarms]

Just a follow up on the issue. It has warmed up some here, so haven't had near the problems lately. However, today I was moving some hay and stacking manure with the 5245, and all of a suden it felt like the steering caught while turning left, and the wheels went hard left. Turning the steering wheel I felt a little pop, and no resistance at all, and the wheels wouldn't turn right or left. I thought I was going to be in a big fix. I turned the steering wheel several to the left, and I felt a little catch, and it went back to steering pretty normal again. Has a little drag, but it's steering. I'm thinking I have an internal issue in the steering gear. Any suggestions?

 

[Renze]

First check the simple: the splined shaft underneath the dashboard, and the rubber Hardy disks. Then jack up the front wheels to check for play on the kingpin bearings. These bearings are the same on 16245 as on 5245 so they only fail due to rust. I drilled grease zerks to them while replacing them.

 

[diyfarmer]

it felt like the steering caught while turning left, and the wheels went hard left. Turning the steering wheel I felt a little pop, and no resistance at all, and the wheels wouldn't turn right or left. I thought I was going to be in a big fix. I turned the steering wheel several to the left, and I felt a little catch, and it went back to steering pretty normal again.

Like Renze said jack up the tractor so the front is completely off the ground, often the steering will automatically go left but turn it the right too and check the in the king pin bearings, and grease them, sometimes they can either so dry or broken that its hard to turn the steering.

After that your back to either the pump or steering box.

 

[wbenchfarms]

It's definitely in the steering box. Steering shaft turns down to the gear box, and nothing after that. Looks like I need to find my manuals , and do some more searching.

 

[diyfarmer]

It's definitely in the steering box. Steering shaft turns down to the gear box, and nothing after that.

Well the steering box is down under the dash with a oil filler hole under the clutch pedal, it could be you need to check the oil level or else its a problem with the gears.

 

[wbenchfarms]

Tore into the steering box last night, as I lost all steering again. This is the tractor I feed one farm with, so I needed to get it fixed. Looks like the issue is with the ball screw in the steering box. The thread on the steering shaft looks fine, I think its the nut end in the box. I have the side of the steering box ready to pull out. Just need to lift up the deck so I can get it the rest of the way out. Have my parts man looking for some replacements.