4010 steering valve issue

graveldog25 · Mar 11, 2018

I have a steering valve apart that the guy said was leaking oil out under steering wheel. Disassembled unit and found orings were rotted away. Resealed complete unit and set valve levers with the John Deere plate. I hooked unit to a tractor to test with the prodedure for the late model 4020. Tractor is newer and has higher pressure rating, but I put a tee in line so I could bleed down to the recommended pressure. When I apply hydraulics to the valve the return from the steering valve flows like crazy. I have the tractor at zero flow and slowly open it. No matter how far I open the tractor valve, it looks like all of the oil is running out the return. I took the steering valve apart and rechecked my work and dont see anything wrong. I powered the valve with the bottom cover off and the oil is coming out of the relief valve. When I did this, I had the steering valve levers out. Can anyone out there offer some insight as to what I have going on here?

Tx Jim · Mar 12, 2018

Welcome to YT
A little higher stand-by pressure should be OK as long at doesn't exceed 2350 psi. Did you have steering wheel turned to the right & weighed to hold full right when adjusting set screws?

tim s · Mar 12, 2018

They can be difficult,,especially if it's your first one..It sounds like your using a newer model tractor to test with,,that can/will blow the valve apart...the way you are using a donor tractor to test is okay "If" you use a older closed center tractor as the donor. Put your valve back on the bench, back off the adjusting screws ,,with the adjusting plate in place turn the wheel all the way to the right, hang a 5lb weight on the wheel to keep it tight in the right turn position,,set your adjustments again...If it continues to frustrate you drop it in a bucket and send it to me and I will calibrate and test it for you...it is hard to explain this adjustment ..

graveldog25 · Mar 12, 2018

I dont have the steering wheel. I used a visegrip on the steering shaft and put weight on it to hold full right.

graveldog25 · Mar 12, 2018

TimS, thanks for the tip. I will try resetting it again. I might not have enough weight hanging on the shaft

tim s · Mar 12, 2018

I use a vise grip here and hang what ever is handy on it,,if your valve still has the 4010 style fittings that hold the adjusting levers in place with those darn little shims you could have too much side motion in the levers and it will give you a false reading on your dial measurement..I usually change them over to the newer style adjustable ones..

graveldog25 · Mar 15, 2018

Thanks for the replies everyone. After several more tear downs, I found out I was pushing oil into the steering valve to slow. From what I can tell, the relief valve was not seating on the backside to hold pressure. Instead it was unseating the ball and pushing out the side of the relief, which was then popping the relief back so it would dump out the back. I cranked up the flow on my donor tractor and was able to test and set the valve correctly. It was an interesting lesson, but since I was scared I would damage the valve with the 3000 psi my donor tractor is capable of, I had the flow dialed back. Thanks again!!!

tim s · Mar 15, 2018

Back in the early days(1970's) I would hook a donor tractor to a valve on the work bench and use a cylinder to act as a steer motor,, it kinda worked but was messy,,all those trial and error things helped me come up with my test bench...I'm glad you got it worked out..

4010 steering valve issue

graveldog25

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Tx Jim

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tim s

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graveldog25

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graveldog25

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tim s

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graveldog25

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tim s

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