So I let my neighbor borrow my 580C backhoe.. It was low on power steering fluid when I gave it to him, it seemed to be doing OK so I wasnt worried about it.. Well he was running it on some steep hill sides and he said the steering was getting very difficult.. so he added automotive POWER STEERING fluid to the power steering resevoir... not HYDRAULIC OIL which is what it is supposed to use... He ran that for a month before it came back to me... Now the power steering is very week and especially week when a load is in the loader bucket.... It takes a huge effort to turn when you are moving slow with a load... I will be flushing the P/S system soon but Im wondering if the automotive power steering fluid might have damaged anything during that time?? Those PS pumps are not cheap! ??
From what it sounds like to me the seals may be shot inside of the power steering unit itself. I would if you have the time to take apart the unit and inspect all seal's before you go out and spend money on a new or referbushed power steering unit.
power steering Take the pump off and inspect it for damage not a big job. You might have a bad relief valve in the pump. Is the pump even turning? That little key can sheer on the drive gear. Just some ideas. About the only seals I could see the wrong fluid effecting would be in the steer cylinders themselves. They have rubber seals that may not like the wrong fluid and cause them to swell up or deteriorate.
I agree with graham. Hyd oil, auto steering pump fluid, motor oil, trans fluid; ain't much in these oils that's going to make a big compatibilty difference in a steering pump. Sounds like something that, darn the bad luck, just happened to happen while your buddy was using it, don't be too hard on him. One thing you do want to watch out for, and I don't remember if this applies to the 580C models, but I thought I'd throw it out there; some of the old Case machines used hyd oil in the brake master cylinders, NOT BRAKE FLUID! That's where you'll have major "compatiblity" problems.
Fluid Compatability ATCO: So right, the 580K Phase 3 and SK take hydraulic fluid in the master cylinder. Brake fluid in those brakes result in costly transaxle dissassembly for swollen o rings on brake pistons. When in doubt consult your owners manual or see your nearest Case dealer for the correct fluid.
Cool, thanks for the replies everyone. I'll rebuild the pump before I do anything else... And then we will go from there...
Please do not disassemble the steering handpump at the bottom of the steering column unless you have a strong mechanical background. First off they are seldom the problem. They can be damaged by improper assembly and torqueing, It should not even be attempted with out a detailed service manual. ATF should not have done any damage to that pump and was an acceptable sub for the old TCH first recommended . As you are inclined, check the pump for wear and the oring under the relief valve cartridge. If you constantly have to correct the steering wheel to stay straight other than just a bit the steering cylinders need repacked. Mel
Been around Case hoes since 73 seen first C's in75 steering cylinders always a problem creeping wheel going down road or just running oil out rod seal. Rebuild the cylinders first, don't even think about the hand pump oncolumn, PS pump will cost you more in parts and time than buing a new one but rarely seen one bad. Again do the cylinders first.
TIMMI NEVER NEVER NEVER let the ps fluid get low in a 580c i have a 580c and a 480c both with the same pump on them the pumps are junk if the fluid gets low or to hot it wears the alum case and you cant fix them you have to bite the bullit and buy a new pump $550 shiped is the best i found their # is 541 770 7082 i dont agree with randy448 i have looked for a good used pump. every used pump i found was junk. yes the rams will let it drift. i bet that you steering wont turn with a load in the bucket if it was the rams the steering wheel would turn but not the wheels. when i get my new pump i am putting a oil cooler in the return linethat should help a lot. and did i say NEVER let the fluid get low. and you can use hyd oil or atf or ps fluid the best would be trans/hyd fluid though hope this helps RICHARD PS NEVER LET IT GET LOW