TM/MXM Steering problem?

[Getnthair]

My MXM140 is just a yard tractor for much of the winter.

I'm now using it with a 6m grass harrow on the front linkage, 6m slitter on the rear and duals all round (front and back).

With the front harrow and slitter folded I can hardly steer the tractor. Having to take several cuts to get around the 90degree corner out of the yard and turning into/out of fields is the same. Pulling hard on the steering wheel and just getting no response. - very stiff.

Steering works fine in the field - done about 200 acres in the last 3 days. Drive up to the fence, lift front and back and reverse turn through 180degrees and set off again - no resistance.

Checked oil level and it was between max and min so added 10 litres of oil - but it has made no difference.

Don't understand what is going on? There might be a wee bit extra oil when the harrow and slitter are folded - but not much as they are double-acting rams. Lifting them up takes the same amount of oil whether the tractor is in the field or on the road.

Generally running with a fixed throttle in the field - about 1500revs. On tick-over going out of the yard and into gates - but if I rev up it doesn't help, seems to seize the steering even more.

Dashboard shows an intermittent P32 error code - which I think relates to steering - but it has done that since I got the tractor 3 years ago. (And it is a common error????)

Dealer wants to take the tractor into the workshop and strip down the steering to do a pressure test - I don't want to take off duals and slitter and harrow, particularly as it is working fine in the field.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

 

[cosmagedon]

P32 is your angle sensor for auto 4x4 and difflock, nothing to worry about in this instance.

We've had issues with the pumps in the past but they always ended up in loosing drive too, I've also seen one loose steering when the filter came loose.

The pump supplies the steering and the low pressure hydraulics/gearbox though a priority valve. Has it been serviced recently? Check the filters first, then pressure test the pump then check the priority valve isn't stuck.

 

[livestock 1]

I had a TM 140 where the nut came loose inside the steering ram but it was just bad to steer rather than what you are describing

 

[Dukes Fit]

My MXM140 is just a yard tractor for much of the winter.

I'm now using it with a 6m grass harrow on the front linkage, 6m slitter on the rear and duals all round (front and back).

With the front harrow and slitter folded I can hardly steer the tractor. Having to take several cuts to get around the 90degree corner out of the yard and turning into/out of fields is the same. Pulling hard on the steering wheel and just getting no response. - very stiff.

Steering works fine in the field - done about 200 acres in the last 3 days. Drive up to the fence, lift front and back and reverse turn through 180degrees and set off again - no resistance.

Checked oil level and it was between max and min so added 10 litres of oil - but it has made no difference.

Don't understand what is going on? There might be a wee bit extra oil when the harrow and slitter are folded - but not much as they are double-acting rams. Lifting them up takes the same amount of oil whether the tractor is in the field or on the road.

Generally running with a fixed throttle in the field - about 1500revs. On tick-over going out of the yard and into gates - but if I rev up it doesn't help, seems to seize the steering even more.

Dashboard shows an intermittent P32 error code - which I think relates to steering - but it has done that since I got the tractor 3 years ago. (And it is a common error????)

Dealer wants to take the tractor into the workshop and strip down the steering to do a pressure test - I don't want to take off duals and slitter and harrow, particularly as it is working fine in the field.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.

It’s the added turning force required by the duals.

I’m guessing your dual wheels are the same size as your tractor wheels or very close in height.

 

[Getnthair]

Thank you - you are absolutely correct. I was just coming back to close this thread when I read your reply.

After I finished about 300 acres I took the harrow and front duals off to do one field with the slitter only - steering back to normal.

I hadn't experienced any steering issues the first year I had put the duals on - but heyho, lesson learned.

Thanks for the replies.