Power Steering Leaking

tjcc1978 · Mar 30, 2019

Our tractor is leaking where the steering column meets the top of the tractor at the fuel tank cover. What is causing this? We can't drive it until this gets fixed as the fluid isn't dripping, it's flowing...

Bern · Mar 30, 2019

A model number might be nice right about now. We can't read your mind.

tjcc1978 · Mar 30, 2019

ford 4600

Bern · Mar 30, 2019

If you haven't replaced the PS filter in a while, you might try that, as a plugged filter could cause the
seal to leak. Otherwise, you're looking at removing the steering wheel and upper hood to replace seal #18 in
the link below.
PS seal

tjcc1978 · Mar 30, 2019

We just got the tractor towards the beginning of March, and so far have had to replace the oil and hydraulic filters. Changed the oil and have filled the PS reservoir with fluid, but now its pretty much just draining out the top of the steering column, on top of the fuel tank cover. We have no idea what was done and what wasn't. We are finding out that this tractor was NOT maintenanced at all, and the owner told me that there were no leaks at all...ha! Never trust someone who has no clue about tractors apparently, the owner knew next to nothing about the tractor. We didn't even know the PS has a filter until you said something...guess we will check it and see.

tjcc1978 · Mar 30, 2019

Too bad that NH site is not helpful in obtaining parts....

Bern · Mar 31, 2019

Call your local NH dealer and give them the part number. It doesn't get much easier than that!

tjcc1978 · Mar 31, 2019

Yeah, that may be true, but they also charge 2-3 times more for parts. I'd rather buy online, it's cheaper. Thanks anyway. I just was wanting to know what was wrong with the leak...and get the part number so we can find it online.

tjcc1978 · Mar 31, 2019

I need PN for the PS filter please. Ford 4600 diesel.

Jim.ME · Mar 31, 2019

Just click on the "Back to Manual" button on the parts page Bern posted for you and it will go back to the index of that parts manual. There you can select the pages for your tractor's various components. The filter is on the power steering pump page in the Front Axle and Steering section.

Bern · Mar 31, 2019

2-3 times more for parts? Where did you ever hear an ugly rumor like that?

Bern · Mar 31, 2019

#24
Filter

tjcc1978 · Apr 1, 2019

What about the lower seal? Where exactly is it, as the diagram is pretty hard to read.

tjcc1978 · Apr 1, 2019

https://partstore.agriculture.newholland.com/us/parts-search.html#epc::mr60872ar258902

Is this the right diagram that I am supposed to be looking at?

tjcc1978 · Apr 1, 2019

Anyone???? I know that this is a common problem with Ford tractors...someone's gotta have knowledge of this issue.

tjcc1978 · Apr 1, 2019

Need PN for the lower seal, we are going to replace both upper and lower seals along with the PS filter.

tjcc1978 · Apr 3, 2019

We are wanting to fix the upper seal with a speedy sleeve. Cannot find a kit with one for the 4600. The seals fail when the shafts corrode and get pitted. Been told there's a few ways to fix it, either have the whole shaft machined, replace the entire steering sector which is outrageous as it's just a seal leaking, or find a kit with a repair sleeve in it. Nobody seems to know what I'm talking about...and I find that hard to believe since this problem is a well-known problem with the Ford tractors. people use the steering wheel to pull themselves up onto the tractor as well, which is not good either.

Which is why I was wanting to know what the difference in shafts is between a 4600 and a 4600SU...there's a few kits on ebay that will fit the 4600SU, but I don't know if the shafts are different?

Sean in PA · Apr 3, 2019

(quoted from post at 17:11:32 04/01/19) https://partstore.agriculture.newholland.com/us/parts-search.html#epc::mr60872ar258902

Is this the right diagram that I am supposed to be looking at?

That is the proper parts diagram for your power steering gear.

The lower seal for the control valve is labelled 15 in the drawing. It does not seal against the shaft, it just seals between the valve housing and the valve adapter below it. The fluid flows out of the bottom of the control valve to force the piston down when turning the wheel in one direction, and the external tube numbered 28 in the drawing delivers the fluid to the bottom of the piston to force it up when turning in the opposite direction.

tjcc1978 · Apr 4, 2019

Ok, thanks for that. We are going to replace seals, but we want the speedi sleeves to repair the shaft as well. I know there are kits on ebay that have the seals and the repair sleeves, but I am not finding one specific to the 4600. There are ones like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SRK632AA-NEW-Steering-Shaft-Repair-Kit-for-Ford-600-640-611-621-631/253557241714

The seller told me that it would fit the 4600.

tjcc1978 · Apr 4, 2019

Pulled the shaft out...its completely rusted and pitted on top. Need a replacement. But do not know part number. Took pics.

tjcc1978 · Apr 4, 2019

Sean in PA · Apr 4, 2019

(quoted from post at 15:15:44 04/04/19) Pulled the shaft out...its completely rusted and pitted on top. Need a replacement. But do not know part number. Took pics.

Look at the parts drawing where you found the part number for the upper seal. The number for the upper shaft in the drawing is 24. Look up 24 in the parts descriptions and it shows two different part numbers for the upper shaft for a 4600 depending on when the tractor was made:

24 [ ! ] D5NN3A526E SHAFT Steering Column Shaft Assy., Upper, 4600 1
(Prod Date) 01-JAN-1975-31-MAR-1978;

24 D8NN3A526AB SHAFT Steering Column Shaft Assy., Upper, 4600, 340, 540 1
(Prod Date) after 01-APR-1978;

The [ ! ] on the first one means that the part number has been superseded, and if you click on the part number the pop-up window will have the most current part number, which is 83917395.

So if your tractor was made between 01-JAN-1975 and 31-MAR-1978 you need to look for part number 83917395, and if it was made on or after 01-APR-1978 then you need to look for part number D8NN3A526AB

tjcc1978 · Apr 4, 2019

Our tractor was made October of 1977. So does this mean the first PN is the one we have? I called one tractor company out southeast way and he told me that Ford no longer makes this? Is this true?

Sean in PA · Apr 5, 2019

It does look like that shaft is no longer being made so you'll either have to find it at a salvage yard, or possibly you could clean it up, then build it up with some weld, and then turn it back to original on a lathe.

When calling around to salvage yards, ask for all of the part numbers below, as the first one is the original part number and the second superseded the first, and so on, until the last one which would be the current part number if it was available:

D5NN3A526E
D8NN3N917AA
E0NN3C529FA
D8NN3A526AB
83917395

I found the third one on tractor-part.com. They claim that Cook Tractor in Clinton MO has one in stock:

https://www.tractor-part.com/Parts?Number=E0NN3C529FA

Keep in mind that it is a used part in a salvage yard., so call them to verify that they still have it and that it is in better shape than the one that you already have.

tjcc1978 · Apr 5, 2019

So it looks like we are probably going to have to take it to a shop and have them rebuild it. There is only ONE Ford/NH dealer in our town, and they are horrendously expensive. Should have known something was up when the owner of this tractor said there were no leaks and he acted like he knew NOTHING about the tractor. I think he was hiding the fact that the power steering was bad...oh well. Live and learn.

So, there are NO other tractors that we can get this from? You can't tell me that the 4600 is unique in the power steering shaft....that doesn't make sense to me.

tjcc1978 · Apr 5, 2019

What about the control valve assembly? Can that be replaced with a different one? If so, what models will work?

tjcc1978 · Apr 6, 2019

Took the valve housing box off, and now we can't get the upper seal off the shaft. How does it come off??

tjcc1978 · Apr 6, 2019

Trying to get this seal off!!!

tjcc1978 · Apr 6, 2019

NVM, we got it off.

tjcc1978 · Apr 17, 2019

I am trying to find the o-ring that goes underneath the bearing race, and cannot find it on the NH parts page...

tjcc1978 · May 8, 2019

Is there more than one base for the 4600 Power steering column? The guy we are supposed to be getting our re-manufactured column from says he had to put the smaller base on the column we are supposed to be getting. That does NOT make sense! HELP! He had us measure the base of the column, where it bolts into the tractor. He said that those measurements are the smaller Base and that he has to put the smaller base on our re-man column. Now, mind you, he said he had a power steering column re-man'd and ready to be shipped last week. When we were talking on the phone this past Friday is when he said all this. My husband says this doesn't make sense to him. Wouldn't that mess up the rebuild job that was supposedly done to this column? HELP!

tjcc1978 · May 30, 2019

We are back to square one with our tractor....still looking to fix our power steering.

Power Steering Leaking

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