Steering loss

[Gruts]

I was working my L4760 in a brushy area with small saplings. Using the grapple to rake out roots. Evidently one of the saplings stabbed something underneath and I suddenly lost all steering. There’s hydraulic fluid that sprayed on the front left tire. Grapple, loader and transmission still working.

I crawled under, but couldn’t see any hose or fittings that were damaged.
Any ideas where I should be looking?

Thanks!

 

[Nicksacco]

Hey Gruts -
I am assuming that you shut down pretty quick and thus didn't see where the oil was being sprayed from.
If that's true, I'd get a helper, fire up the machine (ready to shut down quickly) and see what you can see.

Caution is advised because the fluid can come out under a lot of pressure so don't stick your face and/or hands anywhere. But you should be able to see a mist or a stream somewhere.
Remove cowlings and as much covering as you can to help.
There are both steel lines and rubber hoses involved.

There are rubber hoses connected to the steering cylinder, so that's where I'd start.

Thoughts anyone?

 

[Caden]

There are rubber hoses connected to the steering cylinder, so that's where I'd start.

Thoughts anyone?

Yeah starting on the steering cylinder sounds like a good first step

 

[Gruts]

Yeah starting on the steering cylinder sounds like a good first step

Yeah starting on the steering cylinder sounds like a good first step

Sure enough-it was the RH hose to the steering controller to the axle. The challenge of getting it out was a wire positioning clip at the top of the controller that traps the hydraulic line in position. I had to pry it apart so I could get the hose out.

Hose on on order from Messicks. Thanks for the help gents!

 

[whitetiger]

I had to pry it apart so I could get the hose out.

Couldn't you just unscrew the bolt holding the clamp?

 

[Gruts]

Couldn't you just unscrew the bolt holding the clamp?

From what I could see, I would have had to disconnect the supply and return tubes from the steering controller, unbolt the controller itself and then hope to have enough room to turn a wrench.

Conversely, if I attacked from the top, I would have to take out the battery, radiator, ac coil, and take the fan blade shroud off to get the support plate out of the way to get to the bolt from the top.

Bending a 1/8” steel wire was a lot easier.