Power Steering Ram over extended.

Power Steering Ram over extended.

Hey reaching out from near Wimppyvile, IL USA. I have another basic question. I am for the second time in a month
removing the power steering cylinder from my badged 64 Super Major equipped with a Ford 712 Loader and a 723
Backhoe. Both times I over extended the ram while backfilling with the loader on uneven ground which caused the
wheels to lock full right turn causing the ram rod to un-seated inside the cylinder. The first time, I had the
cylinder rebuilt and the fellow said that the rod wasnt bent.

Im trying to remove the two castle nuts that connect the Steering Ball to the Drag Link (on top of the cylinder)
and Steering Ball to the steering arm (on bottom of the cylinder). The first time I removed the cylinder, the top
castle nut came off no problem, however, the bottom nut would just spin the Steering Ball. I couldnt see any
place to put a pick to stop the Steering Ball from spinning. I ended up using a nutcracker/buster, which damaged
the threads, but I was able to chase the threads and reuse the Steering Ball. When I reinstalled the cylinder
after it was repaired, I was able to turn the steering wheel to apply enough force to hold/bind both Steering
Balls and tighten both nuts. I cannot do that with the cylinder ram rod over-extended. By running a wire and
tying it off I was able to loosen the castle nuts. I was hoping to be able to use something to bind the Steering
Ball in the small gap I have now; no luck. My pickell forks are too big and a flat screwdriver doesnt work.
Anybody got any thoughts?

When I put the cylinder back on I plan on making some shims out of plate steel to stop the ram rob from
over extending. Im worried that something inside the cylinder is missing, broken or just not right to allow the
ram rod to over extend itself. Anybody got any thoughts?

Here is a link to Messick's diagram for the power steering cylinder. Never use AV Spares its a trolling farm!!

Thanks in Advance.
messicks

I have used a crowbar and pressed downwards to jam the taper on the joint. Has worked for me many times.

Have you checked the steering stops on the underside of the axle where the kingpins/stub axle fits? There are also stops on the stub axles themselves. If these wear or break off they will allow the stub axles to oversteer and jam as you say they do. Not too bad on a manual steer but it can damage the ram if it is forced beyond its limits.