Oliver 1550

ALMoyer

New User
Usually over on the Farmall forum, but my late uncles 1550 narrow front tractor power steering is not working to the point it's almost impossible to steer, & as a result my cousin isn't using it. Wondering what are some of the first things to check, besides the obvious, such as fluid,are the pumps problems, air in the lines ? Sorry, haven't looked at this myself in person yet, so that's the reason for lack of more info, but trying to get a sense of what & were to look first to try & fix this
 
   The 1550 has a single hydraulic pump that also supplies fluid for the steering system.  All of the pump output flows through a "Priority Valve".  It is located on the left hand side of the main housing and has a line coming out of the bottom of the housing.  This valve directs the first 2 GPM of output and sends it to the steering system.  The valve has a sliding spool that is spring loaded to the closed position directing priority flow to the steering.  When pump output increases above 2 GPM the valve slides against the spring allowing flow to remotes and three point hitch.
   The system is an open center type, thus the remotes and three point hitch do not have resistance when in "N".  I suspect that you have a priority valve that is stuck in the open position.  [b:654c4848f0]To check[/b:654c4848f0] for this condition, start the tractor and hold one of the remote valves in a work position and attempt to turn the steering.  Should it now steer the valve is stuck in it's open position.  Take it apart and clean it up, you can chuck the valve in a drill press and turn it with a plain paper bag against the lands to polish.
 
I'll probably get in trouble for saying this, but that just happened on grandpa's 1550 narrow front and I think dad just hit the priority valve with a hammer and it unstuck itself and went to working fine again. Hammer is probably not the ideal replacement for taking the valve down and cleaning it of course, but it seems like the tool of choice for things like that and stuck starters in the field...
 
My 1550 got to steering so hard one year when the boys were hauling haylage with it,they couldn't even turn the wheel. I tore in to that one a long ways before I found out it was just the needle bearing in the top of the steering column. It had rusted up. I pulled the top half of the shaft,worked some PB Blaster in to the bearing then worked some grease in with my finger.
 

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