Ford 4000 Power steering problem

patrick66

New User
I have a "63 Ford 4000 Diesel with 5-speed and power steering. I can"t tell if my power steering line is cracked or ruptured, or if the ram is leaking at the fitting. I go through a quart of power steering fluid VERY quickly! There is a very evident leak at the point where the lower fitting goes into the ram. Problem is, I can not get a wrench into that spot! I"m pretty pi$$ed off about what is likely a very simple fix to this problem. My tractor mechanic "friend" seems too busy to come by as he has promised THREE times this past week, so I need to dive into this. Is the ram difficult to overhaul on this, if that is indeed the problem???
 
You may need a good fitting wrench to get in there. Good one with thin walls.

But before you dig in to that too far, check the bottom of the cylinder and see if the fluid is not coming out around the ram packing and just running down and dripping around the fitting so it looks like it is coming from the fittings and really not.

The ram on the original 600/800 cylinders could not be removed without cutting the cylinders end off .... but think the end packing could be repaired without pulling the ram.

Other may have more and better infer.
 
The reason we're asking is that you refer to "the ram" so we are assuming that there is only one, which would indicate a row crop model. A row crop 4000 can have a narrow or wide front axle while a general purpose ag chassis can only have a wide front axle so saying that it has a wide front axle doesn't narrow it down (no pun intended). An ag chassis model would have a steering arm on both sides of the steering column and a ram on both sides, while a row crop would only have a steering arm and ram on the right side.

Then again, it might be an ag chassis with an aftermarket power steering kit with a ram on just one side, but it would still have a steering arm on both sides of the steering column.
 

This is an ag model (rams on both sides, and the PS lines going to the right side). I found the problem. It's a kinked and cracked hard line approximately 1" from where it fastens onto the ram. Now, I have to find either hard line replacements, take mine off and have new lines custom-bent, or find a suitable flexible PS hose line for both lines.

Ideas?
 
(quoted from post at 20:31:36 03/23/15)
I found the problem. It's a kinked and cracked hard line approximately 1" from where it fastens onto the ram. Now, I have to find either hard line replacements, take mine off and have new lines custom-bent, or find a suitable flexible PS hose line for both lines.

Found the solution, too. There are flexible lines from YT that are a direct replacement for the hard lines, and aren't terribly expensive, so I'm running with that.
 
I got the tractor out for the first time in a long time today, and ran the box blade down the driveway. The tractor ran great, no hydraulic leaks, and it starts first time, every time now. I replaced one of the two PS hard lines with a flexible line from YT, plus replaced a bad positive cable and starter solenoid while things were sort-of apart.

Next up is the PTO shaft. It has a bit of fore-to-aft play going on, and to keep it from popping out of engagement, I've had to zip-tie the PTO handle so it stays engaged. A bit of a PITA, but it's a temporary fix until I can pull the seal and see what's up.
 
(quoted from post at 02:17:23 03/27/15)
(quoted from post at 20:31:36 03/23/15)
I found the problem. It's a kinked and cracked hard line approximately 1" from where it fastens onto the ram. Now, I have to find either hard line replacements, take mine off and have new lines custom-bent, or find a suitable flexible PS hose line for both lines.

Found the solution, too. There are flexible lines from YT that are a direct replacement for the hard lines, and aren't terribly expensive, so I'm running with that.

Save that hard line and get someone to make up a new one... Cap it off and save it you may need it to replace that rubber line down the road...
 

I've got it set aside for that reason. The new flex line is routed so that there is little to no chance of it chafing on anything.
 

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