justme wrote:

I have a IH-3400A backhoe in decent condition but the power steering
has gone out. It started failing by working intermittently and now,
it is completely gone. Yes, it has fluid. Sometimes the steering
wheel will turn if you put a great about of force on it and the front
tires will turn. At other times, the steering wheel will easily turn
but not front wheel action.

I do have a limited service manual for the machine showing the flow
for the steering. I was thinking of getting a 0 to 4500 p.s.i. gauge
and working down the line to see where I am not getting pressure but I
don't know what I am doing.

Any ideas that don't cost an arm and a leg?

Thanks

Joe

I presume this is full hydraulic steering i.e. no mechanical linkage,
just a pair of hydraulic cylinders or a double ended cylinder operating
the wheel linkage? There is essentially nothing that can go wrong on
that end beyond a leaking or crushed cylinder.

Attached to the steering wheel will be a hydraulic steering valve unit
with four hydraulic connections, two to the steering cylinder(s), a
hydraulic pressure supply and a return to the hydraulic tank. You can
check for hydraulic pressure at the input, but 95% chance it's fine if
the rest of the hydraulics on the machine are fine since they are
normally all fed from the same pump.

These steering valves are rather complex, but they aren't all that
expensive, especially if they are newer. You may be able to buy a
rebuild kit for the steering valve for $30-$50. Northern Tool and
Surplus Center both list some hydraulic steering valves for around
$450-$500.