I have a Cat D5C that wont turn right. S/N 6ZL00455, it pushes good, turns left no problem, at first it seemed like adjusting the brakes helped a little but there is plenty of band left on the brakes. Opened the clutch case and found small black shavings, not sure what they were, and inside of case is a little wet, no puddles of oil or anything, it all just has a oil coating on it. Is that normal? What can i do to diagnose the steering issue.
Here is a picture of the right side torn down, and the left side with just the control rod cover opened. The left side is a lot cleaner and seems in better shape. And i was wrong before, there is a small layer of oil on the bottom of the case
Tell us in detail what happens when you try to steer. I think you have wet clutches, look for a 1/4NPT plug on the case wall near the final drive fill plug. Later Bob
So ill be driving machine. I turn left, no problem, go back straight. Try to turn right and the machine stops like the brake is applied. Foot only pushing right pedal, nothing happens. There is a port near the sprocket.
You have a clutch release problem. You could check the pressure at that port on each clutch. I would clean off everything and put the cover back on the clutch. Take the steering valves, clean them up and inspect the bearing on the end of the spools. They fail and you can't build enough pressure to steer. The valves are pressure reducing valves and the pressure coming through them is relative to the force applied to the spools. Failed bearing means less force and less pressure, not enough to release clutch, need 200+PSI. Later Bob