4020 steering issue

RLFox · Jul 1, 2011

While mowing hay, my front left tire went off into an abandoned well, the impact caused the tire to veer sharply to the left, and now the steering mechanism that has the rods to turn both tires is locked in that position, the steering wheel does not even beging to budge it nor does a pry par.

Any ideas what the possible damage is? and how hard it would be to fix for a decent shade tree mechanic?

thurlow · Jul 1, 2011

Have you looked (CLOSELY) at/under the front-end to verify that it's not a mechanical problem?

RLFox · Jul 1, 2011

Yep,even unhooked the tie rods, boy do I wish!

tim s · Jul 1, 2011

I have seen this happen before, some times it cracks the steer motor, in your case I would say it has "popped" some thing in the steer valve under the dash. If you would uncouple the steer lines on the right side up near the radiator and then see if the wheel will turn, minding the fact that if it does turn it will blow fluid out so kinda head the lines out to the side a bit, this will prove the valve works or not. It will be a bit messy, but it will guide you to which end needs worked on.

RLFox · Jul 1, 2011

Thank you!

RLFox · Jul 1, 2011

Tim - when it happened it appear to rupture one of the main lines above the radiator, as fluid was leaking out pretty bad, and the thing that hooks to the steering motor that the tie rods hook too as well as the steering wheel are locked up - does that shed any more light on it?

Thank you!

tim s · Jul 1, 2011

When you separate the lines down near the radiator that should allow you to move the front wheels ,providing you have it jack up off the ground, the trapped oil will keep it from moving. Then when you start the engine and try to turn the steer wheel,,and my guess is it won't turn ,,you will know which end to start on. I have seen the blow the steer valve apart, making it look like a dropped pumpkin. And I have seen them just blow an oil line and not hurt anything else...but not often, Darn it....

Tech 7 · Jul 1, 2011

Had a customer with exactly the same problem a number of years ago...blew the steering lines open just in front of the rad and bent the steering spindle and knee on the one side. In this case the bend was fairly obvious. I replaced the knee,spindle and lines and all was well. Have you isolated left and right spindles in case this is your trouble?

4020 steering issue

RLFox

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thurlow

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RLFox

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tim s

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RLFox

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RLFox

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tim s

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Tech 7

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