Steering cylinder

I have gotten the steering cylinder cap on my 1850 tonight. I was able to slide the duck bill spreader from my hydraulic power kit under the cylinder body and after giving it a few strokes it popped up and the gear cap ended flush with the cylinder shoulder. I will get it running tomorrow hopefully and with luck there will be no more leaks. I am sure I used a pail of hydraulic fluid since I brought that beast home just moving it around the yard. I am so glad I was able to borrow a high powered Hotsy pressure washer to wash the tractor. I am sure a lot of the grease and grime had been there since 1969. On the plus side some of the paint Under the grease is in remarkable condition for a 50 year old. Also using the little porta power spreader made things so easy and I did not have to risk cracking another top cap. That hydraulic kit has saved my butt so many times It is one of the most versatile tools on the farm. Last month I had to use the hydraulic pack to push my dead skid steer off the trailer and into the shop fighting against gravity, friction and a few other laws of physics the entire 8 feet a couple of few inches at a time.

I hope the cylinder works for you alright. Now that it's up where it should be, as long as the cap is tight and the bolt inside the gear is too, it should stay up there. I had the same problem with oil all over everything on my 2-105 White. It was leaking out the weep hole that I didn't even know they had. I was just looking at it the other day after I baled hay and marveled at how dry everything was on it.

The leak had been going on for so long by the looks of things it was hard to tell ( was. The tractor also needs to have the fuel pump swapped out as it leaks (pours, more like it), I have put in a new seal on the aux shaft below the fuel pump as it was completely missing and left a steady line of motor oil Where ever it went next to the hydraulic oil that had been pouring from the steering cylinder. There are a variety of missing bolts from the engine side plates, fan only had two bolts in it, the oil pan has been patched with a plate that is bolted to it and there are so many little leaks on the PTO driven hydraulics for the loader it would take me a month to cure them all. I hope only to slow the amount of oils I am drizzling. Haha. I think I will just take the ancient loader off and set this tractor up for the mower or baler. Clutch feels solid and the pto brake actually works plus the 3 speed will be a bonus. Still have some wiring to redo as it’s just a dogs breakfast of frayed, cut, shredded and shorted wires. Oh yea, it is missing the tach drive as the engine came out of a combine I think. Can I do it and still be ready to cut hay in 10:days? I hope so........

Dave: send me an e-mail. I have a few pointers. J.