jd 350

[Don2018]

1966 jd350 track loader with power steering. Used it quite a bit last summer building a road on our property. Had to frequently add fluid (hydraulic) to the power steering reservoir. Could not locate any significant leaks in the power steering system anywhere until I checked the engine oil level and found that the oil level was about 5 inches above the mark on the dipstick. I assume this is where the power steering fluid went. Can anyone through personal knowledge confirm that there is a route for power steering fluid to enter the crankcase? I'm guessing there is a bad seal in the power steering pump? My study of the maintenance manual leaves me confused as to how the fluid could escape.
Thanks
Don

[Jim B]

I will say I have not my hands on one in years and could be wrong on this. The pump mounts directly to the engine, correct? It needs to be driven by something to work. It is driven from the engine gear train via its input shaft which has a gear on it. The pump has a seal (parts catalog calls it packing) in the front housing which that shaft passes through. If that shaft seal leaks, steering fluid will go into the base of the engine, as steering oil there is under pressure and the engine gear train area is not. Here is a link to the power steering pump parts page of the online 350 parts catalog. Check out item key #21. The expansion plug (item key# 17) could be another leak area.
Jim

https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/sid ... gId/200724

[Don2018]

Ok Thanks Jim I will look into that!