Need some help from you Cat mechanics out there? Have a 1984 D4E 27X standard shift that has a steering problem. This is the tractor that I move the rest of the non-running stuff around with.

The right clutch was not releasing properly and steering was being done by the brake. (Also had the left steering clutch handle not returning – which is accomplished through the clutch control valve) The steering seemed to work better when the tractor was running at a higher RPM, and would get worse as used, which I assumed was because of the heating of the oil.

Anyway decided that the problem was in the hydraulics of the Cultch Control Valve 8V9393 and rebuilt it. Did not find any visible problem, but replaced all the seals and added .0060 of shim to the pressure release valve to increase pressure to the assembly. (There were no shims in the unit before rebuild)

This fixed the problem of the left cultch handle not returning, but seems to have solved only a small part of the right steering clutch release problem - At idle speed, the tractor now will steer fine to the left, but does not drift to the right unless the break is used.

I did not take her all the way down to replace/rebuilt the piston assembly for each clutch, but think that may be the problem. Do not think it is the pump since left works fine, but that is an easy rebuild it it could be the problem.

Any suggestions??????? Thanks

The steering clutch lever needs to get to the fully returned position in order to cut off oil pressure/flow to the yoke cylinders. When the handle is released and the oil pressure to the yoke cylinder is stopped, the steering clutch springs pull the yoke assembly back to the engaged position.
Things to check:
1. Adjustment and movement of the steering control linkage.
2. Too much leakage in the steering clutch control valve.
3. Steering clutch discs or plate wear.
4. Weak clutch springs.
5. Seals or steering clutch piston wear.

Maybe Bob/Ont. will pick up and comment. He's the expert on the later stuff.

Took some digging to find the oil pump specs. It is a two section pump, one section is the scavenge pump for the clutch and the other section is the pressure pump which should put out 500 psi @ 2,000 rpm (pump rpm) and 8.5 gpm.

Might be a good idea to check pump pressure.
The minimum pressure needed to operate the steering clutches is 230 psi.

Couldn't find the relief valve pressure setting other than a 1.19 in length with a test force of 51 lbs. and a free length of 2.23 in.

Thanks Old Magnet

We are going to check the pump pressure, but first we were going to replace filter and clean the screen. May even replace fluid, although looks fine.

We are also going to reset both linkage (right and Left) to see if that solves the problem. While rebuilding the control valve, we removed the cover to the yoke cylinders and checked the linkage length for each and they seemed to be fine.

After we had rebuilt the control valve, we thought that the control valve linkage may very well be the problem. but wanted to have an experts advice.

The tractor has to be in the shop anyway, for the right track adjuster needs the seals replaced.

Not too familliar with the D4E but suspect it's similar to the later track loaders. Most of their steering trouble came from a throwout bearing that came apart. If that happened you would have no steering on that side. Occasionally I have seen poor steering, needing extra hard braking and it was caused by one yoke pin breaking and the throw out bearing cage not being moved far enough. Need to take top off to see them, might be able to change a pin/bolt with clutches in place, Don't know for sure.
Later Bob