Charlynn Power Steering Issues. . . .

Put the pump on my Super M the other day, well, today was the first day I was actually using the tractor, and it was running for about an hour.

I have the system, where the fluid tank is on the left side of the tractor, tucked up under the hood (across from the generator) and then the fluid gravity flows into the pump, which is mounted on the Governor Housing cover, and then sends it back up to the "motor" on the steering shaft.

It started out today not working "quite right" for my tastes. Kind of jumpy when you tried to turn it. No just smooth power steering. Kind of worked, kind of didn't. After about 10 min of running, it was leaking out the LID of the fluid tank?! Pretty soon it was just pouring out of there?!?! Blew all over the side of the manifold, engine, etc. Smoked the _ _ _ _ out of the shop when I put it back in.....

Where/when it was leaking, the fluid was coming out like a froth? It would bubble up, and just start pushing it's way out? I am running ATF in there, should I swap over to Power Steering Fluid? I don't understand how or why it is leaking? Why is it getting pressure behind it in the can?

Thoughts? Thanks!! Bryce

I would use a thin weight hydraulic oil. You said it was foaming??? It sounds like you have a high pressure leak in the control valve/motor on your system. That would account for the sluggish steering and foamy oil takes up more volume so it would run the reservoir over. Also once the oil foamed the system would not work correctly. The fluid will not carry pressure with the air bubbles in it.

I run low viscosity hy guard in mine, but ATF should work.

The torque multiplier had an in and out, are they correct?

Could be as jdseller mentioned, or it could be getting air in the system somewhere. A loose hose clamp on the suction hose can cause this.

Bryce, shoot me an email, i have allthe char lynn manuals scanned on my computer, i will send them to you

Thanks for the offer, but you already sent them to me!!! Just remember that!!! Thanks again!

Hadn't thought about it drawing air in from somewhere.... That WOULD make sense though! I will have to have a look at that.

Yes, I am 99% sure that the lines are hooked up correctly. When I took the system apart on the parts tractor, there is a piece that holds BOTH hoses, and then has a couple of O-Rings where it bolts onto the Motor, it only fit one way, and I never removed the hoses, so, unless it was wrong before I got it, it has to be right.

Is there any way of testing that? My dad suggest that I drain the system out, and try running some power-steering fluid in it, you think Hydraulic oil would be better? Define "thin weight"?

IF there is a leak in the motor, how do I prove that is the problem, and more importantly, how do I fix it?

Most times when I have had a problem like this the issue has been a bad seal on the pump which won't necessarily leak oil out, but will suck air in when running. Often the other problem is a restriction on the suction line between the reservoir and the pump, especially when the reservoir is below the pump. I know the pump is lower in your situation, but it maybe could still be a restriction in the line (a bend too short causing it to kink?), or a line that it too small.

Bryce, try the simple first, as Paul has pointed out, power steering pumps can suck a very small amount of air around the pump shaft causing oil to foam. That is usually why older vehicles power steering groans. So add some oil back to your reservoir, put a drop or two of heavy gear oil on the pump shaft at the seal. Now run the tractor again and see if it takes a lot longer for the oil to foam, of course quit before it blows all over the tractor. If this works as a temporary fix, you then know the shaft seal is bad. It's a very easy test.

I used low viscosity Hy-Guard. It is around a 10 weight oil. It is made for hydrostatic drive systems so it can carry the load and will not foam unless you have troubles in your system. Many power steering systems DO NOT work correctly with ATF in them. You can use power steering fluid or the Low viscosity Hy-guard. I used the Hy-Guard because I already have it on hand for JD hydrostatic systems. It also is cheaper than Power steering fluid.

Okay! Sounds good!

I have probably 5 gallons of power steering fluid in the shop, so, no shortage there!

I am going to drain the system out, flush it out with something, and then swap over to Power Steering fluid. IF that doesn't work, I will start in on some tests and see what is going on... Hoping nothing too major... :/