IH 240 U - could I actually have (busted) power st

Clue #1: this tractor has a Superior loader. Clue #2: Tractor makes a periodic whining sound up front (engine runs smooth, not aparently affected) when I am moving along trying to stay straight, swinging the wheel back and forth.

Clue #3: The steering has been loose as a goose on this unit since I bought it. And it's dang near impossible to crank the wheels when stationary.

Could the intermittent whining sound be a failed power steering unit? Was not told that it had power steering when sold. How do you tell?

(PS, I read all the posts about sheared Woodruff keys in the steering box on 240s. Have never tried to look in there and it sounds tricky.)

Thanks, gentlemen.

I do have an I&T manual and will spin up on that.

thanks, guys! - Dave

As a matter of fact I added about 2 gals of hydraulic oil just yesterday. In 2 months of ownership and intermittent loader use, finally it failed to activate. Without any other info to go on, I added hyd oil until the level became visible through the filler hole -- my filler is high up on the right side of the tubular loader frame, next to the Superior serial number plate. Is your loader powered off a pump low in front of the grill? Mine is. I have one leak on the high pressure fitting coming out of that pump, and at least one other somewhere in the right main hydraulic cylinder. It is always wet and the piston cleaner ring just slides up and down on the piston.

Question: what is your Superior's hydraulic filter part number? My filter assembly is kind of messed up, had been broken off and was hanging from a rope when i bought it. I redrilled a couple holes and managed to bolt it back onto the frame. It's hoses are fine. I figure I should drain the system and change it but don't know what filter element to get -- and don't even know where to drain the loader hydraulic system!

Thanks, Dave D

My s/n is 3507 J, which makes the front part of the tractor about a '58 I think, but the trans housing casting code was definitely from '60 or '61 according to experts on this forum, which is what the seller told me the year was ('61). He was like the 3rd owner, from what I gathered, first being state of Connecticut. I paid $2500 for it as is, and the left axle housing had a bad leak which I fixed as a 2-day project. Plus the clutch was badly adjusted, and I managed to get that working so I can get some silent shifts at least part of the time. I don't know what I did but it's definitely better than it was when I "kicked the tires" and settled the price.

Since this is a loader, I figure somebody probably had the good sense to make sure it had power steering 40 years ago. Sure could use it today! Yes, there is a pump underneath the dash/
gas tank area but I never knew what it did! Can't see any leaks from that area, but I hear this whine from up front when I move the wheel sometimes, just like you might on your car if your power steering is failing. I know that my steering gear is shot -- the front wheels can flop all around at weird times if they hit a bump or a log wrong and I can't crank the wheel at ALL when standing, only when rolling. I can spin it like a merry go round before it will start to turn the wheels when I am under way!

I don't think my Superior loader can exactly lift a house, but I know from experience it can lift the rear of the tractor off the ground, even with filled tires which weigh probably 500-800 lbs apiece. It will definitely hold hyd oil up to that filler neck. (Is yours in same place?) I used it today for several hours, and there were no adverse affects from filling it that far the other day.

My challenge is going to be hyd hose replacement. I have several that control the bucket tilt that are naked to the nylon cords, but the fitting nuts are disintegrating. A mechanic friend told me I would probably need to have a professional change them out and I believe him. I don't have a trailer so I will need a tractor house call, if I can get one.

I can email you a picture of my rig and my hydraulic filter if you are interested. You can email me at dd@kathleendustin.com.

happy loading, Dave