Ford Steering cylinder

Ford Fanatic · Aug 27, 2015

I have an old Ford 740 that I am working on. I can't seem to find a new steering cylinder for it and they tell me it can not be rebuilt due to it being welded together during assembly. I have spent countless hours on line looking to come up empty. Any recomendations? I would be willing to have mine rebuilt or purchase a new one. The part number is as follows 231201. Thanks in advance for any help.

Steve@Advance · Aug 27, 2015

A good hydraulic shop can cut it open and rebuild it, if it is rebuildable. They may have connections to find a new or rebuilt one if that one is too far gone.

Or you can take it to a machine shop, get it cut open, repair it yourself, weld it back together.

Ford Fanatic · Aug 28, 2015

(quoted from post at 15:13:16 08/27/15) A good hydraulic shop can cut it open and rebuild it, if it is rebuildable. They may have connections to find a new or rebuilt one if that one is too far gone.

Or you can take it to a machine shop, get it cut open, repair it yourself, weld it back together.

I have already talked to a few hydraulic shops and they say they can do it, however, It apears to be a rather dificult fix due to it's nature. The pressure and return lines run inside of it so when someone is welding it back together he would have to weld those 2 individual lines inside and then weld the cylinder. I have looked everywhere and can not find a new or reman one so I am not eager to give them the last one I have available.
If you know of a shop that has rebuilt this type of cylinder before I would be more app to going with them or if you know of some where else that I may find a new one. I would prefer to go with a new or reman one.
Thanks

Steve@Advance · Aug 28, 2015

I don't know of a shop I can recommend. But best I recall that type cylinder has a double wall with orings inside the head that gets the oil to the other end, no internal welding. Now which end to cut? Might take it by a forklift repair shop, see if they know who or where to get it done. Those are common on lift trucks.

showcrop · Aug 28, 2015

They are problematic. You don't need to cut it open unless the rod is bad. I had one where the rod was pretty bad and I took it to a local hydraulic shop, and they cut it open and put in new rod and welded it back together. Not cheap, maybe $300.00 15 years ago. I am pretty sure that like Steve says you don't need to do anything inside.

Leroy · Sep 1, 2015

If I am not mistaken that cylinder has the control valve built in the end and is not a plain cylinder. That type was used on the 4100 tractor and also was not rebuildable, The early John Deere 45 combines (1960-1963) also used that type of cylinder. So this might give you some ideas. Both of our 4100 Ford tractors the cylinder leaked on, we just had to keep an eye on fluid level so unless it is very bad or a show qween then I would just live with it. Does it have anything welded on the end of the rod or is it just a threaded end? I think that both the 4100 tractors and combine were that way. Would have to check books to make sure. And that there was a weld on the end of cylinder holding a bushing in that would have pushed against the 0-ring to make a tight seal. Back at time when we had the Ford tractors they did not have the tools to work with they have now. If just a work tractor and nothing on end of shaft if too bad a leak to use you might be able to put an 0-rimg on outside and make a clamp to hold it in place.

Ford Steering cylinder

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Steve@Advance

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Steve@Advance

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Leroy

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