65 John Deere 3020 locks up steering to the left

jturbo10

Member
I have a 65 John Deere 3020 gas with wide front end. The steering valve/module under the dash has always weeped a bit but the steering has worked just fine. Last month turns to the left will temporarily lock up and then release and continue the turn, especially at lower power settings. I have tried to review the archives and most talk about steering motor and steering valve and/or hydraulic pump. Any thoughts on what is most likely the problem. I will probably pull the steering module and maybe the hydraulic pump and send them to Tim S. and have him rebuilt them and maybe try to rebuilt the steering motor myself since I will have the steering system torn down. Any suggestions on best way to fix the problem would be helpful. It is getting to be a problem when it locks up without notice when on the road, going through gates, picking up bales with the stackline, etc. Afraid I'm going to break something or tear up a building. Thanks
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I can re-seal and bench test the valve for you, it makes no difference when you would do the steer motor,, and if the main pump is not leaking and is giving you around 2250 psi stand by pressure I would wait on that, the valve is ornery to get out and be careful when you loosen the lower left oil line you need to back it up with a pry bar so you don't break the fitting out, that fitting is about $75, the steer wheel and dash needs to come off..stick it in a bucket packed in newspaper and ship it UPS (Brown trucks) it will weigh 74 lbs...
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I had that problem with a 4020 last fall. I changed the hydraulic spin on filter and the long screen pickup filter located on the left side of the case under the left rear axil. In doing so I also replaced the hydraulic oil.

We had used the tractor close to a hundred hours after that and it worked fine with no complaints.
 
Tim: Where do you test the hydraulic standby pump pressure? I don't need this tractor until the start of haying season but I will try to get the module out within the next two weeks and get it to you via UPS. I was hoping to attend your seminar on hydraulics but I guess we can wait. Do you ever go to the Flywheeler rally in Florida? Thanks for the quick reply. Joe
 
rig up a 5,000 psi gauge to a hose end and plug it into the remote coupler move the lever in the correct directions with the engine at about 1800 rpm )3/4 throttle),,you should be getting around 3350 psi for your stand by pressure..
 
Ok fine. That is easy to do and I already have the gauges. I'll let you know when I get the module out of the tractor and ready for shipment. Thanks for the help.
 
I've seen this before. Pretty sure it's in the hydraulic pump under the front end. Valve is worn. Allows air to get behind it and it slowly bleeds out causing the steering to slow turn.
 
(quoted from post at 16:43:17 01/21/16) I've seen this before. Pretty sure it's in the hydraulic pump under the front end. Valve is worn. Allows air to get behind it and it slowly bleeds out causing the steering to slow turn.


I agree with this as it is sucking air from somewhere and when the wheels turn to the left it is syncronizing the steering valve (bleeding the air out of the steering system)
 
No, your thoughts are not correct,, if the pump has at least 1500 psi stand by pressure the steering will work good in both directions,, air will not be an issue on this system. The valves get worn to make them out of spec's is the most normal malfunction for them, worn o-rings, and a sudden "Jar" like hitting a stump or tile blow out are the other failures.. The quick and sudden "shock" of hitting some thing with a front wheel will send a spike pressure back up to the valve causing it to crack or actually burst from the high pressure the shock can create..
 
We have a 3020 that has some steering issues, turns slow to one side, can't remember if it's left or right and drifts in one direction so you have to keep turning wheel to go straight.
What parts do I need to send for you test and rebuild?
And about what does it cost to have done?

email is open
Thanks
 

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