ih 856 power steering

I recently got a 856, the previous owner told me the power steering doesn't work. He said he had someone looked at it and told him the ps pump was bad and would be too expensive to fix.

It has been sitting for 15 yrs and used. I haven't tried to start it yet. I plan to remove the drain plugs enough to make sure there isn't any water in hydraulic fluid. Also will drain all old fuel.

The steering wheel just spins free 360 degrees. A Tractor salvage guy told me this is normal for the steering wheel tin spin free when the engine isn't running. Is this right?

I purchased an IT manual and haven't seen anything about the steering wheel spinning free 360 degrees.

Thanks for any help guys, Tom

Was he talking about the pr hydraulic pump in the belly or was he talking about the hydraulic hand pump under the steering wheel?

Either way not that big of cost compared to the $8000 plus value of the tractor if the rest of the tractor is in good shape.

If it is the hand pump under the dash it may allow the wheel to free spin.

Gary

Can't comment on the steering on that tractor, but I had an Oliver with full hydraulic steering, and it would turn freely when not running.

You also need to talk to someone about making sure the injector pump is free before turning the engine over. If its seized, turning it over will free it up by breaking parts, necessitating an expensive rebuild.

First off BEFORE you just start ripping things apart first check and see if your PTO and three point work, IF yes then change the hyd, filter and fill to the full mark on the transmission dip stick then add three to five gallon more Hy Tran . OH also before you chang filter ya may want to crack the drain plug up under the draw bar and see how much water comes out. , if the fluid is all milky then change that first then the filter . Once done start the tractor and let it warm a bit then run the engine up to around 2000 RpM and turn the wheel to the left as this will help BLEED the system . If you do not get anything happening then ya can pull the small plug out of the back of the MCV with the engine off then start the tractor ( BUT BE READY TO SHUT IT OFF FAST if and when it picks up prime ) IT will pump a ton of oil out fast . If nothing happens then there are two posables (1) the flow control valve is stuck in the MCV and (2) the pump is toast . NOW if you plan on tearing into the MCV and have never done so get a book and REAR before you even touch a wrench and when your done with the first reading then do it again . THEn when you know or think you know then you can start . When you remove the MCV from the tractor becareful not to loose the little sprig on the lower right side of the MCV , this is the sump check plug spring . looks like a ball point pen spring.The MCV controls steering , brakes , T/A and Lube to the rearend. And there is nothing in that system that will break the bank on repairs.

The 856 doesn't have a "power steering pump" per se, it's full hydraulic steering with no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the front wheels.

Like others said, check fluids and replace filters, and see what else hydraulic is working.

Thanks for all the response guys. My original questions is : With the engine not running, Is it normal for the steering wheel to spin around and around with no stops ?
Thanks, Tom

the longer it sits, the freer it spins. had it been sitting only for a day or 2, there would likely be some resistance as it spins around, although not what you would get with a mechanical steering linkage. as noted, the 856 has hydrostatic steering, so there are no stops to keep the wheel from going around and around, until the engine is running. then the stops are on the steering arms or the steering cylinder.

(quoted from post at 23:48:26 03/22/15) the longer it sits, the freer it spins. had it been sitting only for a day or 2, there would likely be some resistance as it spins around, although not what you would get with a mechanical steering linkage. as noted, the 856 has hydrostatic steering, so there are no stops to keep the wheel from going around and around, until the engine is running. then the stops are on the steering arms or the steering cylinder.

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The front wheels are now turned to the right.
Is there a way to straighten these up so I may move or tow this thing?

Thanks, Tom

(quoted from post at 21:03:39 03/22/15) Thanks for all the response guys. My original questions is : With the engine not running, Is it normal for the steering wheel to spin around and around with no stops ?
Thanks, Tom

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No, it is not normal.

The steering wheel should be VERY hard to turn with the engine off, and it should turn the front wheels.

If all the other hydraulic functions work, that would isolate it to the power steering system. That would mean it could be the hand pump, the pilot valve, or the steering cylinder in the front bolster.

There is a troubleshooting process where you cap off various lines and perform tests to isolate the problem. I think it is in the I&T service manual.

nn

So, the hand pump is located at the lower end of the steering wheel shaft. And it should still turn the front wheels if the engine dies while driving down the road.
If the machine sits not being used for 15 years, the fluid might drain from the system and then the steering wheel will spin around and around with no resitance. I presume that there should be a check valve in place to prevent the fluid from draining from the system.
I have read the IT manual 3 times and still have hard time figuring out 100% what is going on. I just want to learn all I can before tearing some part of the system that doesn't need.

Sorry for being a nusuence,

Thanks, Tom

There is a steering check valve but its purpose is not to keep oi in the system but rather to allow in back in if it has drained out and the steering wheel turns freely. Sometimes it works rather well but other times not so good. If someone has replaced the check valve with a plug you will not be able to draw oil back into the system by turning the steering wheel.

The front wheels may be turned by sticking a bar between the spindle and tire and pushing which way you want the wheels to move.