I recently inherited the 2040 I grew up on. I’ve restored most of it. Rebuilt the engine as it had 7000 hours on it. New injectors all the goods. I replaced the whole steering column from db electrical as it only steered one direction. 11 hours of use and it blew the top oring. I put the new guts in the old column after ordering new orings and seals. The tractors steers fine stops runs great 3 point works great. My question is the steering column will fry your hand after 30 minutes of run time and occasionally you can hear either the relief valve or pump whine for a second then go away. I’ve changed fluid and filters twice in the last 20 hours. I’m stumped.
2040 hydraulic issues
- Thread starter Dave2040
- Start date
Can't give you specific help but it sounds like you have a definite hydraulic problem.
Try yesterdaystractors.com and search for something like "2040 steering hydraulics" or similar.
Here's the first thread I found that sounds similar to your issue.
forums.yesterdaystractors.com
Try yesterdaystractors.com and search for something like "2040 steering hydraulics" or similar.
Here's the first thread I found that sounds similar to your issue.
John Deere 2040 Hydraulic issues
Hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. I bought this tractor not running a few years ago, as a project, and I've hit a road block that has me stumped. The tractor is the smaller 3 cylinder diesel engine, pre-266,000 serial number, open center hydraulics. After running the...
forums.yesterdaystractors.com
Thank you! I have thought to tear the steering column back apart and see if the valves are any different. I just hate to replace those o rings again as it took 5 hours to rebuild the column first time haha. It’s an open center tractor 1976. It quit steering to the left 20 years ago. So I knew a valve was bad. I thought buying a new column online would be the fix but definitely a waste of money doing so!Can't give you specific help but it sounds like you have a definite hydraulic problem.
Try yesterdaystractors.com and search for something like "2040 steering hydraulics" or similar.
Here's the first thread I found that sounds similar to your issue.
John Deere 2040 Hydraulic issues
Hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. I bought this tractor not running a few years ago, as a project, and I've hit a road block that has me stumped. The tractor is the smaller 3 cylinder diesel engine, pre-266,000 serial number, open center hydraulics. After running the...
I know these days new parts aren’t very good. The o rings in the new column were terrible quality! I will tear it back apart as soon as possible! Thanks!
What exactly did you buy? A complete unit, valve, casting, piston and all that? Or just a replacement valve assembly?
Just a side note. I fought the six O rings in the column for about 4 or 5 hours one day and finally decided I wasn't going to get them into place. The local Deere dealer shop put them in for $80. That meant it took less than an hour for someone to put them in. I have since devised a method for doing it myself, provided the column is off the tractor and open on the bottom. I can now put them all into place in about ten minutes.
Just a side note. I fought the six O rings in the column for about 4 or 5 hours one day and finally decided I wasn't going to get them into place. The local Deere dealer shop put them in for $80. That meant it took less than an hour for someone to put them in. I have since devised a method for doing it myself, provided the column is off the tractor and open on the bottom. I can now put them all into place in about ten minutes.
I bought an entire complete column from db electrical online. Yes I fought those 6 orings myself! I put some Vaseline on them and used two extra long picks to push them down the tube. Everything works great I can just hear a noise sometimes sounds like a pump or valve whine for a few seconds. And the column gets very hot to the touch.
I’m gonna pull it back apart and look and see what I can find.
The six orings in housing can be installed in the incorrect grooves and cause overheating. Also there are shims in the valve bodies that can cause problems if the correct amount of shims aren't installed. Too many shims will make free travel in steering wheel movement and too few will cause overheating of oil.
How do you know how many shims to use? I haven’t been able to find that info anywhere? I know there was definitely more slop in the old set than the new one
John Deere manual (even the often mistrusted I&T version) gives pretty detailed instruction on the valve stack assembly, including the shims. If you own the tractor, why not own the manual? I'm not sure what your interpretation of "more slop" amounts to. A certain amount of movement is necessary to open and close the valves during steering operation, but with the steering wheel stationary and no steering occurring all valves need to be closed.
I’ll try to get another manual for it. Old one has stuff missing out of it and just needs replaced. Yes the tractor stopped steering to the left many years ago ( only manual steering ) but you could spin it one finger to the right. So when i tore the old assembly apart it all looked pretty worn. That was the reason i bought a new one. Like I said old girl has 7k hours on it so im sure it has some wear here and there. I appreciate the help!
I would imagine most all of this is available. You just need to get the tractor serial number and the right page of the parts book.
