I'm at my wits end here. I bought a 63 Ford 4000 last year to use around the property. Over the summer I noticed that the power steering pump was leaking. It has the Eaton style pump with a reservoir on top. I bought a rebuild kit, replaced all the seals, O-rings, etc and put it back together. It worked good for a day or so but then started leaking again. Trying to pinpoint the leak is hard because the fluid is being slung off of the pulley and outward directed towards the wheel. It only leaks while running and is more pronounced when turning the wheels.
I thought I maybe screwed up installing the front shaft seal so I bought and installed another one. Same deal. It worked for a day or two and then started leaking again. I bought a third seal and had my dad watch over my shoulder as I installed it to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. I started the tractor and as soon as I turned the steering wheel all the way to one of the stops it started leaking again. When I mean leaking, it isn't a little leak. I am loosing almost a quart an hour.
I finally bought a new pump, The pump from early 60s Studebaker and ford cars are the same Eaton pump so for $85 I figured I would finally put this issue to rest. I installed the new pump, drove the tractor for an hour and when bringing in a load of firewood the other night it started leaking again. Same issue where I am getting a constant drip/leak somewhere near the front of the pump and it is being flung outward by the pulley.
I need some suggestions as to what to do next. I was thinking maybe it is the pressure relief valve on the pump but then they both would have had to be bad on the old and the new pump. Is there somewhere else in the system that could be causing pressure to build up and drive a leak? Could I be doing something wrong when installing the resoivoir? The new pump did not come with it so I had to transfer it over (with new O-rings under the two holes). Are these pumps just prone to leaking like this? Is there a different pump or seal I can or should use? I'm using just regular power steering fluid. Should I be using something else?
Keith
I thought I maybe screwed up installing the front shaft seal so I bought and installed another one. Same deal. It worked for a day or two and then started leaking again. I bought a third seal and had my dad watch over my shoulder as I installed it to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. I started the tractor and as soon as I turned the steering wheel all the way to one of the stops it started leaking again. When I mean leaking, it isn't a little leak. I am loosing almost a quart an hour.
I finally bought a new pump, The pump from early 60s Studebaker and ford cars are the same Eaton pump so for $85 I figured I would finally put this issue to rest. I installed the new pump, drove the tractor for an hour and when bringing in a load of firewood the other night it started leaking again. Same issue where I am getting a constant drip/leak somewhere near the front of the pump and it is being flung outward by the pulley.
I need some suggestions as to what to do next. I was thinking maybe it is the pressure relief valve on the pump but then they both would have had to be bad on the old and the new pump. Is there somewhere else in the system that could be causing pressure to build up and drive a leak? Could I be doing something wrong when installing the resoivoir? The new pump did not come with it so I had to transfer it over (with new O-rings under the two holes). Are these pumps just prone to leaking like this? Is there a different pump or seal I can or should use? I'm using just regular power steering fluid. Should I be using something else?
Keith