Priority valve/flow devider for Farmall 400 (gas)

Where can I find a rebuilt, or new, priority valve for my Farmall 400 gasser,... and what should I expect it to cost me?

Thanks,
Spotted Horse

If you will settle for good used parts, click below for eBay auction item. Power steering regulators are different from non PS regulators. Not sure if the PS regulator being offered will work on a non PS hydra-Touch system. I am sure someone else will know.

I recently bought a complete three valve system plus PS style regulator on eBay for $52.00. It included the manifold. I think there was only one other bidder. You shouldn't have to pay too much.
eBay auction

After re-reading your post, perhaps you are going with a separate pump for you power steering system. In that case check out Surplus Center in Nebraska. They have a large selection of flow dividers and priority valves as well as other PS components. You can also call their toll free tech line.

Click below
SS hydraulic index

Thanks Wardner,... I'll wait a little while and then place a bid on it.

I've never bought anything on ebay before, so any advice is appreaciated.

Spotted Horse

(quoted from post at 20:51:23 08/13/10) After re-reading your post, perhaps you are going with a separate pump for you power steering system. In that case check out Surplus Center in Nebraska. They have a large selection of flow dividers and priority valves as well as other PS components. You can also call their toll free tech line.

Click below
SS hydraulic index

Click to expand...

My 400 has the Behlen power steering (no seperate pump), and will work when I pull one of the hydra-touch levers, so I'm sure the valve on ebay should work.

Thanks again,
Spotted Horse

I have made about 125 purchases on eBay. I only bid once and that is in the last 10 seconds. You may place a bid considerably higher than the last bid but you will only pay the standard increment over the highest preceding bid. That increment will increase as the value of the auction escalates. It is based on a percentage. At $10 the increment might be $0.50. At $50 it might be $1.00. Your higher than necessary bid is your insurance to win against other bids that you cannot see.

In other words, you can bid $90 but if the next highest bid at the close is $20, you will only pay something like $21. On the other hand, there may be a bid similar to yours but higher. You will lose but the other guy will pay $90 plus the increment of probably $2.00. All that money goes to the seller minus his listing fees.

Get your eBay account established. Find a hot item (many bidders) with lots of time left. Bid it once or twice for practice. PayPal is very convenient for bidders. Think about creating an account there too. There are no charges for buyers at eBay or their payment subsidiary PayPal. Good luck but you shouldn't need it.

BTW, I just bought $900 worth of good metal cutting band saw blades for $28. That cost includes the shipping. I love eBay.

In the past six months, I have had problems with two non-deliveries and one item not described properly. eBaY's Buyer Protection Plan reimbursed me the cost of the item and the shipping.

I have made about 125 purchases on eBay. I only bid once and that is in the last 10 seconds. You may place a bid considerably higher than the last bid but you will only pay the standard increment over the highest preceding bid. That increment will increase as the value of the auction escalates. It is based on a percentage. At $10 the increment might be $0.50. At $50 it might be $1.00. Your higher than necessary bid is your insurance to win against other bid amounts that you cannot see.

In other words, you can bid $90 but if the next highest bid at the close is $20, you will only pay something like $21. On the other hand, there may be a bid similar to yours but higher. You will lose but the other guy will pay $90 plus the increment of probably $2.00. All that money goes to the seller minus his listing fees.

Get your eBay account established. Find a hot item (many bidders) with lots of time left. Bid it once or twice for practice. PayPal is very convenient for bidders. Think about creating an account there too. There are no charges for buyers at eBay or their payment subsidiary PayPal. Good luck but you shouldn't need it.

BTW, I just bought $900 worth of good new metal cutting band saw blades for $28. That cost included the shipping. I love eBay.

In the past six months, I have had problems with two non-deliveries and one item not described properly. eBaY's Buyer Protection Plan reimbursed to me the cost of the items and the shipping.

Spotted horse, I just had this same problem with Dads (now mine) 400. Heres something to check. If its an original PS it will have a U pipe from the first (inside most hydro valve) to the bottom of the priority valve. There is also a plug in the steering post manifold to block hydro fluid and force the priorty valve to supply the hydro valves after the PS has fluid,hence the priorty. Mine the plug had migrated to the valve passage. Its suppose to be sandwiched between the manifold and valve. Mine was missing the washer to hold it there. I welded a washer and put a new O-ring and it was good to go. HTH Tim

Thanks Tim, I'll check that out when I tear into this one. Actually when I start using my 400 early in the mornings the power steering works real good,... but after the tractor warms up the power steering quits working unless I move one of the Hydra-Touch levers.

Spotted Horse

Looks like you may have bought the regulator on eBay. Winning bidder had zero previous wins. Congratulations.

However, it looks like you could have gotten it cheaper. You bid four times. Each time you bid, you raise your final cost. You should only bid once and at the last moment. It didn't help that another bidder had only one previous win. He was inexperienced too.

Look at this auction for an identical regulator plus three valves and manifold. I was the winner last week. Check the bidder action and you will see that I bid once and within the last 10 seconds. I got my stuff for $19 cheaper than you even though it weighs four times as much.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...773&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT#ht_500wt1154

(quoted from post at 20:36:04 08/13/10) Where can I find a rebuilt, or new, priority valve for my Farmall 400 gasser,... and what should I expect it to cost me?

Thanks,
Spotted Horse

Click to expand...

You got a good deal on that valve off ebay, assuming it works. Steel Wheel Ranch sells rebuilt priority valves for $350 www.steelwheelranch.com

Thanks fellas,... yeah, I'm a bit "new" at this internet bidding. LOL

Overall,... I'm satisfied with the price of the valve, and I hope it fixs my power steering problem.

Spotted Horse

@#%^#*,.... My ebay priority valve is a "big flop", it doesn't work at all unless I move one of my other hydraulic levers.

Guess I'll have to spend the big $$$$ and get a rebuilt valve from Steel Wheel Ranch!

You may not have a defective regulator. One of your other valves may be leaking internally and not allowing the regulator to work properly.

Considering that your original and the eBay regulator both appear to be malfunctioning, you should explore the possibility that both are actually OK. I am guessing that the Steel Wheel Ranch rebuilt regulator will return the same result. Now I feel kinda guilty about suggesting the eBay item.

Start a new topic and ask Owen Aaland to help diagnose your problem. D Slater is also excellent.

If they cannot help, get the PS repair manual at eBay or Binderbooks.

You could also go with a Plan B. Install a PS pump at the front of the engine. That should be alot cheaper than the rebuilt regulator but will take time to install.

Wardner, thanks for the replies, .... and there is no need for you to "feel guilty", I realize that ebay can be a "crap shoot" much like any other auctions.

I'll start another thread (like you suggest) and see if the other fellas can help me figure out what's wrong with my power steering.

Thanks,
Spotted Horse