D69U Steering Clutch Issue

Hi gang, continuing to try to get the D6 moving- I replaced the fan belt and repaired a few other things, but when we tried to take her for a spin we found the left side steering clutch was not disengaging. The lever feels like it does nothing, it does not take hardly any effort to pull back to the stop. Does this sound familiar? Know what it means?

If the booster was low on oil, normally the lever would be difficult to pull back. Check fluid level first; My guess is the plunger is siezed and not returning?

You do understand that a D6 should not require any effort to pull the levers back, while engine is running and main clutch is engaged? How does the right side compare. Two fingers is all it should take to pull back. Did you try mashing the brake pedal as well?

Juiceman, their is no comparison between left and right, right is firm and feels right (compared to my other Cat) and the left is just like it is disconnected...

Well bummer! Sounds like time to remove floor plates and take a peek. Hopefully it is just a missing pin or something, otherwise you’ll have to remove the fuel tank/seat base to get to the booster.

Is your booster unit full of oil?

Take the back (vertical) cover off and look in there to see what the yoke is doing.

Do all the adjusting on the inside of the case as per the Operators Handbook, or the Service Mans Refereance book.

I cannot think of a situation where the booster would work normal on one side and be stuck on the other side. Because if working in brush and you get a small stick between steering lever and the stop, the other lever will pull extra hard. As the booster is made to only supply one side at a time. So it thinks you are starting to pull the lever that is not against the stop. You can over come the booster with brut force and pull both levers at the same time and get the machine stopped. But made to supply boost to one side at a time. So very likely adjustment way backed off or a pin feel out.

I had throw-out bearing on a steering clutch go out, it felt like if you could pull just a little bit more it would turn normal. Only a few hours of work left in prepping a field to plant. Had an operator keep running it. He played with the external booster linkage trying to get more throw. Did nothing to help, and old time mechanic was very up set he had to spend time getting it back to correct adjustment.

Thanks guys, taking the back cover off to see what is happening sounds better than pulling the seat-tank off.