Homemade hydro-static steering for W-400

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Bracket for "hand pump" and steering column. Don't know why they call it a hand pump. It's a rotary valve. 1/2" x 4" flat bar was bent in my wood splitter.


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The IH column flange and the forklift hand pump have the same bolt circle. More over, the inner steering shaft from the forklift uses the same steering wheel spline and threads. I had to section out about 6" so it would fit the IH column. I am using the IH wheel. The W-400 hydraulic reservoir comes with the recess to accommodate the original steering box. Still had a problem trying to get one of the hydraulic fittings stuffed in there.


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Decided not to cut up the original tie rod so that I (or someone else) can go back to original . The tie rod ends and sleeves came from my local autoparts dealer. He let me open all his boxes and I found a perfect match. The steering cylinder came from the Surplus Center for under $100.


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Hydraulic power comes from a complete F-400 valve bank w/PS circuit. It is mounted to the right of the W-400 bank. It is supplied from a drive shaft connected to the front of crankshaft

good job!
When"s the road test?
karl f

Never ending innovation. You are excellent!
Jim

Tis amazing the things you think of and build. Very nice as always.

Wardner you do nice work. I want to see a video of that tractor and all its abilities and "options" when you get done. You owe it to us now....

Railhead,

I'll do a video one of these days but I haven't even started the tractor since last winter. There is always something else to build or modify. The amazing thing about these modifications is that I haven't destroyed an original part or punched an extra hole anywhere. Well, OK, I did saw a hole for the tach but IH had a kit for that attachment "back in the day".

I missed about four tractor show deadlines this summer. I thought I was going to be ready for each one. So don't hold your breath for the video.

Is this the LP tractor you first got 6-9 months ago?

I've got something you might could help me with. Got a Super M LP that has Char-lynn pwr steering unit. When I got it the hydraulic lines were a nightmare ( I should have saved a picture of it).
I redid them and added a two spool open center loader valve.

There is a valve or splitter that goes between the pump and the loader valve. I don't know the technical name for it but it builds pressure for the power steering and acts as a flow divider. I think it just uses some kind of check valve to build the pressure. Problem is that it seems to be building a fair amount of heat in the hydraulic fluid. This thing was on the tractor when I got it.

Is there a better way to make the steering work and keep the open center loader valve or do I just need to go to a separate pump for the power steering?

J.J.

Stuff I have added so far:

rear fast hitch

front fast hitch pushed from reversed drawbar

50cfm air compressor driven by belt pulley gearbox

10kw generator driven from air compressor

left side PTO that extends from rear IPTO and terminates at front left of tractor

center PTO that begins from left center and terminates at front center. It penetrates the front crossmember of the front fast hitch

two left side PTOs that run perpendicular to tractor centerline.

tube and shell heat exchanger that picks up heat from tractor coolant

front hydraulic pump

three more IH hydraulic valves and reservoir fed from the front pump

two air valves, cylinder, and 12v compressor to control IPTO. I now get to ditch the big PTO lever

hydrostatic steering because the standard drag link was giving me headaches. It was always in the way.

suppose I could add the convertible traction aids and winch (which are coming off), front weight bracket, relocated battery, and the five hydraulic cylinders for the front fast hitch and the folding ice cream freezer station that will handle 10-15 freezers.


I have probably forgotten something. Whatever you do, please don't make any suggestions for additional attachments. I need to suppress my latest idea. A PTO driven LED sign that will rotate high above the tractor. Kinda like a helicopter. It's a good thing I don't have an extra Electrall gearbox hanging around.

Centex,

I've actually had the tractor for about ten years. Yes, it is LP.

That valve is called a priority valve. I have several tractors that use them. I haven't noticed a heating problem but I am not a farmer and my run times are usually short.

A separate (or dedicated) pump is better as it narrows down a troubleshooting session. It also allows full hydraulic power to go to your loader.

Jim,

Thanks for the compliment. My response is short because I have run out of things to say. See the other responses in this thread.

Karl,

Road test? OMG. There are alot of loose ends that still need attention. Perhaps I am just afraid to actually start this thing. It might go air-borne. Well, maybe only the parts.

You never know where an electrall gearbox may spring from. I'm going to get started on that W450 sometime in the very near future. Sam

I know you said no more ideas, but I think a pto driven pressure washer should be in the works.

Great work as usual, Wardner.

Jason, do you mean like this?

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This is on my F400. Way too big but a smaller high pressure washer is on my list of things to do. I still have to make an ice crusher, install an ice chest and water tank, and fit up the soda fountain.

Tractorsam,

Glad you are thinking about me. I figured you were going to keep yours.

Wardner,

You do excellent and interesting work on anything of yours that I have ever seen. You come up with many ideas no one else has ever thougt of, much less built. Rube Goldburg should have taken lessons from you.

Harold H

Thanks Harold,

Tractors appeal to me because they are so adaptable. Of course, the factory designed them that way to meet a variety of different uses. In my next life, I will come back as a tractor engineer.

Well priority valve makes sense. In my other life my machinery has one.

I notice the heating because, believe it or no, I have another Super M LP that has an identical hydraulic setup save for the power steering. (It needs it) It will run all afternoon and the reservoir will only feel about 10 degrees above ambient.

On the first one the reservoir feels pretty warm (about 120 degrees) after about 45 minutes or so. It stabilizes in that range so it's probably not an actual problem per se but it seems unnecessary. Also when it's running the supply line from the priority valve to the spool valve makes a buzzing sound due to the check valve.

I think I'll go ahead and put a separate pump on it.