730 Power Steering Not Binding - It's Too Loose!

e peterson · Aug 13, 2015

I have a 59 JD 730 w/ PS that started acting up on a 12 mile ride last weekend. Before, it steered fine, but with a little "notchiness" when turning, especially at lower RPM's, but it was tight. Been that way for at least the last 3 years.

Last weekend, I started getting almost a full half turn on the steering wheel before the front wheels would respond and turn in the direction I wanted it to go. It is like driving a old tractor with a very worn steering gear, I was all over the road at 12 mph trying my best to keep it out of the ditch.

I am going to pull the hood soon to start looking for anything obvious, but has anyone ever heard of this amount of "slop" in the steering wheel? I hear about instances of steering being too stiff to turn, but this is the opposite.

hd6gtom · Aug 13, 2015

pin sheared off in a JD years ago and killed a distant neighbor while he was going down the road.

e peterson · Aug 13, 2015

Which pin would be prone to shearing? Inside the column or something I can see with the hood off?

Hugh McKinney · Aug 13, 2015

I don't know about a 730, but on a 70,
there is a splined shaft that fits into
the sleave at the top of the pedestal.
On my 70, the splines were severely
worn, so much so that I devised a
temporary remedy of using a slightly
larger retaining bolt in place of the
worn out roll pin. I would think to get
to it you'd need to remove the hood that
covers the radiator. Good luck. Hugh

AJB-830 · Aug 13, 2015

In 1987 I had the JD dealer rebuild the power steering on JD 70. Last year while disking, all at once I couldn't steer. Steering wheel just turned. There is a pin (cotter key) that attaches the steering wheel shaft to the steering unit. Cotter key pin was not split and fell out. Think I had to take the grill off to get at the pin. Good thing it didn't happen on the road. If I remember right when it happened, I could pull the steering wheel & shaft out while sitting on the seat. Something to check as the key might be only partially broke and making contact after a 1/2 turn of the wheel. Think mine did something like yours just before it totally fell out. Al

ET · Aug 14, 2015

There is a screw that holds a fork onto the control valve. I bet it is loose. Take the four bolts out ove the valve and pull it off the worm housing. If it comes loose the valve will move one way and send the front wheels turning that way. Not good if you are in road gear.

Kent Petersen · Aug 15, 2015

The 730 has a steering shaft in 3 pieces and 2 u-joints the front shaft floats in the operating sleeve it sounds like your op sleeve may be the trouble.i have all these parts on hand

Kent Petersen · Aug 16, 2015

you can call me at 605 270 1844

e peterson · Aug 31, 2015

Thanks for the replies. I have a person who has worked on these before coming out to look at it. It is strange, I tried it out again to see if it was a 1 time thing, and when the engine is off, I can only turn the wheel maybe an 1/8th of a turn, but when the engine is running (at idle or full open), I can turn the steering wheel 2/3's of a turn before the wheels start to move.

e peterson · Sep 3, 2015

Problem resolved: 1 of 2 5/8" bolts that come up from the underside of the wide front fell out and caused my issue. One specialty bolt later, I should be back on the road soon.

He thought that the worm gear shaft was cracked and or the pins were coming apart, but all was well inside of there (except for 1 bearing that needed to be replaced).

Thanks for all the suggestions.

730 Power Steering Not Binding - It's Too Loose!

e peterson

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hd6gtom

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e peterson

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Hugh McKinney

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AJB-830

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ET

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Kent Petersen

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Kent Petersen

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e peterson

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e peterson

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