1971 1020 Steering Box Leaking from Shaft

Is this the seal(item 11) that you replaced?






Below is a photo(for example) of the back of the clutch housing where it mates to the transmission case. As best as I remember, the oil from under the steering valve drains through the hole(red arrow) back into the oil reservoir(trans case).

Yes, #11 is the seal I replaced. I suppose I could pull the steering reservoir drain plug and put a couple psi of shop air to the reservoir to verify the oil return isn't blocked. If air doesn't flow sounds like I remove the steering column and should be able to find that galley and put higher pressure to it to blow it free. Tractor just turned 800 hours and that passage should gravity drain and not hold fluid - I can't imagine it's blocked.

So here’s a question - what’s this galley for? It’s not a bolt hole. That gasket was new when I replaced the output seal the first time. Is the gasket supposed to isolate it or is that part of my problem? I don’t recall if the original gasket had it isolated like that. Was there a different cover with a port in it to connect something to that galley? View attachment 788996

If your 1020 has power steering the hyd oil return galley in steering housing is on far left of photo(key 16). This galley allows return power steering oil a route back to oil reservoir(trans case). IIRC galley opening in top of clutch housing is closest to gear shift levers. To access this oil galley one must remove PS housing.
Blowing air into drain hole on plate on RH side of clutch housing DOES NOT connect to PS return oil galley. Another possibility for oil to leak into the area where you replaced the seal is failed shaft seal at the lower end of power steering housing

Tx Jim said:

If your 1020 has power steering the hyd oil return galley in steering housing is on far left of photo(key 16). This galley allows return power steering oil a route back to oil reservoir(trans case). IIRC galley opening in top of clutch housing is closest to gear shift levers. To access this oil galley one must remove PS housing.
Blowing air into drain hole on plate on RH side of clutch housing DOES NOT connect to PS return oil galley. Another possibility for oil to leak into the area where you replaced the seal is failed shaft seal at the lower end of power steering housing

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Tx Jim, I got a question for you concerning what Flyweight stated above. When I was going through my '66 1020 last summer I found that exact hole in the clutch housing that Flyweight pointed out. It goes through the clutch housing to where the steering column mounts. My tractor did not come with power steering from factory, (yes i know that if mine did it would use the open center setup on the timing cover). It really does appear that this hole in the clutch housing matches up to where the return would be on a later style closed center power steering column would be. It appears so close that I almost want to find me a p-steering column and associated lines to swap onto my tractor. See the pictures below.

Hole in clutch housing:


View from above the clutch housing where steering column mounts. (circled in blue) The smaller hole on the left is the one that goes through housing to trans sump. The larger one in the middle matches up with the return galley that is drilled into the side of the clutch housing for return oil from an open center power steering set up.


View from side of clutch housing behind the steering gear cover. Hole circled in blue matches up with the larger hole in center of above photo. Should be the return galley for open center power steering.


I don't have me a P-steering column to match up and study, but does this not appear to be the return galley for a factory closed center p-steering column? It certainly matches up with the shape of the gasket, as well as photos i've seen of the p-steering columns.

Let me know your thoughts, thanks

Gumbi
It's been at least since 1987 that I looked inside the clutch housing of a JD 20-55 series utility tractor. I think 1st photo shows hole for return oil where power steering housing bolts to top of clutch housing. 2nd photo showing your red arrow & if opening was connected to power steering return oil galley appears that oil would return in clutch housing where dry clutches reside which would be a big No-No. Is the hole that red arrow is aimed at open or plugged? I think clutch housings are identical for manual & power steering tractors. What's the casting # on your 1020 clutch housing?

Tx Jim said:

Gumbi
It's been at least since 1987 that I looked inside the clutch housing of a JD 20-55 series utility tractor. I think 1st photo shows hole for return oil where power steering housing bolts to top of clutch housing. 2nd photo showing your red arrow & if opening was connected to power steering return oil galley appears that oil would return in clutch housing where dry clutches reside which would be a big No-No. Is the hole that red arrow is aimed at open or plugged? I think clutch housings are identical for manual & power steering tractors. What's the casting # on your 1020 clutch housing?

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TxJim, second picture, red arrow is on the "wet" side of the clutch housing. The larger picture Gumbi posted shows the mount for the transmission pump and the front support bearing for the PTO shaft. Gumbi also stated the other end of this passage is where the steering column mounts.

Zebrafive said:

TxJim, second picture, red arrow is on the "wet" side of the clutch housing. The larger picture Gumbi posted shows the mount for the transmission pump and the front support bearing for the PTO shaft. Gumbi also stated the other end of this passage is where the steering column mounts.

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Correct. My first photo is on the wet side of the clutch housing and the hole is immediately behind the transmission oil pump. I'd have to double check on the housing number later this week, but going through my old photos i believe this is it T21600T

Zebrafive said:

Gumbi, you said your tractor did NOT come with power steering.
Do you need/want it?
It think it would be expensive to add, but think it could be done.
My 2030 has power steering. It is a MUST with a loader

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It does NOT have power steering. Do I "need" it, well i've been able to get by fine without it for 2 years now since I bought the tractor. I recently added a fat stack of slab weights to the front, and this has made a noticeable difference on the effort it takes to turn. I needed the weights though. When ever i hooked up the 3pt blade i have, the front end damn near bounced it was so light. This more comes down to it's something that I'd like to add eventually if it is possible, and I would prefer to use a stock closed center setup.

I've been contemplating if this was possible for a while. I have read different stories if the clutch housing was the same between the two and if the return galley was present. I've seen TxJim's post on the subject in the past and the way he has stated it sounded like the return galley was something that was cast into the housing, vs what I saw which is a drilled hole.

I'll stick my neck out and say manual and power steering will use the same bolt pattern on the clutch housing.
You could pull your steering column (I know a lot of work) I've had mine off on my 2030 once. Then look for the return oil passage. If it's there, next would be determine what donor models steering column would work.
This one from eBay lists1020 in the description, just not the Title. Area in red (I marked) is what I think is return

Zebrafive
Thanks for explanation. Ithink you're correct on location of return gally in steering housing. There are 4 different casting #s with only 1 part # for all #s. Only way yo known 100% if return gally is present is through visual inspection. I've seen an aftermarket self contained power steering kit that utilizes an engine powered pump & external hyd cylinder BUT PS kit will not fit on tractors having a FEL mounted.