2630 Hydraulic Problems – Further Troubleshooting

I still have problems with my steering but I now know how to recreate the problem. I am hoping someone will know which component is failing after reading this.

If the loader is sitting on the ground the steering works perfectly; 1 finger lock to lock turns, sitting on concrete. If the loader is in the air, right turns work fine, left turns work fine until I get to center then I can’t turn past center. Lower the loader to the ground and steering all the way to the left returns immediately.

I thought maybe there was back pressure coming from the loader control valve but I removed the pressure and return lines and the bucket stayed in the air.

Any ideas? I’d appreciate all comments and/or suggestions (except “let it die a slow death” like my wife suggests).

Additional info:

I rebuilt the main pump, same problem.

I rebuilt the loader control valve, same problem.

I connected the loader pressure side directly to the pressure line coming from the pump, after the steering connection, therefore bypassing (eliminating) the pressure control valve, rock shaft and SCV. Only the loader and steering are running from the pump.

I have the rock shaft housing removed and I can see a lot of bubbles in the oil when running.

With the loader control valve in neutral and the engine running, there is zero oil coming from the loader control valve return line.

What loader do you have?
What size front tires?
What is the oil pressure?

The loader is an E0048.
Front tires are 11L-15.
Pressure runs about 2100 at the steering valve input but the needle bounces around a lot.

Set hyd. pressure at 2400 psi.
Air pressure in tires at 40psi.
Should install counter weight on 3ph. approx 1 ton.
Let me know results.
Note: there was probably nothing wrong with your system, except low hyd. pressure.

Have you disconnected the tie rods, jacked up the front end and checked the spindles for freedom of movement? Sounds like they may be binding up.