we ve , got a farm tractor that's had hyd pump issues with low power, come to find that suction screen was stopped up an it burnt my hyd. pump up, cleaned out screen an replaced pump, but the steering is still kinda hard an nearly need to use both hands to turn wheel, we have removed the return filter an replaced with new, I though bought exchangeing out the steering orbital valve but the one I have laying around the shop is made differ than mine on the 2955,,, I have called around looking for one an everyones pretty proud of them things,,, trying to save a dollar here, if it needs it we ll get one but don't wanta buy it just outta guessing it needs one, is there a way to check it to say ya its bad or good , 2 wheel drive, has 2 steering cylinders, an orbital metering steering valve mounted under steering wheel in dash, valve has left an right turn ports an a pressure an tank port.
Check the pressure for the steering. The Deeres I'm used to have a pressure control valve that connects to the hydraulic pump outlet line that regulates steering pressure and gives priority to steering. There's a spool in there that can stick or be scored up bad enough to make it malfunction.
went up today an pulled the valve out you were talking out, seemed to be slick an moves freely, noticed it had several shims in there with the tip of the valve an were the spring meet, I put a few washers in there to help hopfully get the psi up, it tended to steer a lil quicker but still hard to turn, it still once ya get the steering wheel to turn an ya let it go the wheel will still turn on its on slowly till the cylinders botton out.
any one out there know how to check steering pressure on the orbital steering valve on my john deer 2955, steering is still hard to turn wheels, shimmed up the hyd. pressure valve with few more washers to try an get psi up, still no luck, service remotes on rear of tractor read bout 2000 psi, at a dead end here
You can try over here as well in the John Deere section. http://www.yesterdaystractors.com/
The suction screen on my old 1520 was stopped up because a brake disk had come apart and contaminated the oil. After replacing the disk and all the oil, my problem went away.