3020 leaking oil on my boots!

HobbySaw · Apr 14, 2018

Question for the experts. 1964 3020, row crop, wide front end, diesel, powershift found after sitting for 5 years. All systems coming back up nicely. Now I'm getting a significant oil leak from the steering column right at the steering wheel. Steers fine- just leaks on your feet. Parts book shows 2 seals that I guess have dried out. Can these seals be replaced without pulling the entire steering gear out? Any tricks? I tried a search for back posts but with no luck.
Thanks in advance, HobbySaw

matthies · Apr 14, 2018

If it was that easy. There is an oring that needs replacing, last thing out during rebuild and first thing in on assembly.

Cliff Nelson · Apr 15, 2018

It's worth a try. Remove the steering wheel, snap ring, and washer to get to the seals. Upper seal will lift out then another snap ring and washer for the second seal. Note direction of the seals as they are opposite each other. The lower seal has to seal return pressure in the housing. The o-ring referred to by the previous post seals high pressure oil in the piston and when it leaks will increase pressure in the housing causing the housing seal to fail. I have replaced the seals under the wheel with success if the rest of the steering valve doesn't show external leakage. If the valve is wet in other areas, chances are the internal o-rings are poor also.

tim s · Apr 15, 2018

What Cliff said is a possible short term fix,but the o-ring in the column is letting oil past and the oil is going up the tube and past the seal under the steering wheel,,it is time to re-seal and calibrate the steering valve,,it's a nasty job to get it out of the dash, and a bit tricky to get set correctly, most Deere store shops can't do them,,sad but true, some will try and fail,,and charge you plenty while doing it,,this is also sad but true. If you want to send it to me I can repair it and bench test it here.

HobbySaw · Apr 15, 2018

Thank you Tim s, Cliff Nelson and Matties for the answers. Since this is purely a hobby tractor, I'll try the short cut first and if that doesn't do, it'll come out and I'll make the arrangements to send it your way Tim. It'll be several weeks before I get a chance to work on it but I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks again
HobbySaw

HobbySaw · Apr 24, 2018

Update on seal replacement -- got the parts in sooner than I expected ($12). Took 2 days to get the wheel off with a puller, penetrating oil and tapping every time I passed. Once off, took maybe 30 min start to finish. After about an hour of test driving, still holding good. We'll see how long it lasts. Thanks again

3020 leaking oil on my boots!

HobbySaw

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matthies

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Cliff Nelson

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tim s

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HobbySaw

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HobbySaw

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