1958 IH Utility Tractor - Power Steering

BuckskinRider · Sep 15, 2016

The Welch plug was missing off the bottom of the cast steering section. In order to install one I had to remove "some" parts so as to remove the entire steering column. As a result I'm now also replacing all the wiring, gauges, and steering wheel - cleaning thoroughly and repainting. The one thing I'm not certain about is after having removed the steering, and losing some hydraulic fluid, do I need to do anything special regarding bleeding or air, or is it a matter of running the tractor, turning the steering, and then adding fluid to it's proper fill level after reassembly?

Thanks in advance.

Steve@Advance · Sep 15, 2016

I've never had to bleed a power steering system. Start with the reservoir full, crank it up. The level will fall as the system refills. Try not to let the pump get so low that it pumps air. Try starting it for just a second, then kill it, recheck the level. Add some oil, turn the steering and keep watching the level. It helps to jack the weight off the wheels.

If you can keep the oil from getting frothy with air, it will work smoother from the start. But if it does get air whipped into the oil, it will slowly rise up and out through the reservoir when the engine is shut off. Usually a couple of overnight shut downs will clear it up. The level will drop some as the air comes out, so recheck until it stabilizes.

BuckskinRider · Sep 15, 2016

Thanks. That all makes perfect sense. The plug was $7, but it took hours to get to the point where I could get the assembly off the tractor to install the plug. I'm glad that adding some fluid will now resolve this issue. Not an expensive repair per se, but so time consuming. There was no way that it could be installed any other way.

Again ... I appreciate the information.

1958 IH Utility Tractor - Power Steering

BuckskinRider

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Steve@Advance

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BuckskinRider

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