John Deere 450e steering clutch foaming

[trevinhurt]

My right track does not seem to be engaging very well. The dozer will track straight but when trying to turn left seems right track has no power like the steering clutch on that side isn’t staying engaged, and when pushing into a pile of dirt only the left track keeps turning under a load. I have been hunting the slipping problem for a while now, and today stuck a endoscope camera into the brake adjustment plug on the side of the steering clutch housing and after starting the dozer and idling in neutral, the right side steering clutch housing fluid all starts to foam up and then pours out of the adjustment plug hole. I looked into the left side as well with the camera and no foaming at all. Any ideas on a cause/fix?

I actually had that right side steering clutch cover off last week looking at that hydraulic hose thinking it may have a big hole in it based on reading some other posts, but did not observe or feel any problems with it.

[Jim B]

Sounds like a hose/fitting is bad or clutch seal is leaking. Those clutches have oil pressure anytime the engine is running unless you pull the lever to stop that side. Then the pressure is dumped off the clutch pack and the brake applies. Foaming would indicate oil flow that should not be there to me. Do you have the technical manual for your 450C? it will tell you how it works in more detail.

[trevinhurt]

I do have the manual, just not sure what direction to be looking for the problem. I took the steering clutch cover back off this afternoon, being able to look down in the housing and starting the dozer, that housing immediately starts frothing and fills up the whole housing to the top within about 45 seconds. I connected a hose to the steel line coming from the spool valve on top of the trans, I put that hose into a clean bucket and turned the engine on to see if the frothing was coming from before or after that point and there was no frothing into the bucket.

I was starting to think maybe that hydraulic hose inside the steering clutch had a small hole that was allowing pressurized fluid out to cause the foaming and to not be engaging that clutch on that side. Do you have a section or group number you could point me to for reference on the clutch seal you mentioned? I’m assuming the whole steering clutch would have to come out to fix that though?

[trevinhurt]

This is a 450E as well not “c”

[Jim B]

Sorry, the C was poor eyesight on my parts. The same applies to the 450E steering. If the oil pressure is not on the steering clutch piston the steering clutch is released.

Oil flowing freely from a hose into a pail, may not froth as it can when being forced out of a seal or hole in a hose under pressure when submerged. That pressure forced leak stirs the oil covering it causing frothing.

TM1330 Op & Test
Group 5 Theory, starting on page 9020-05-17, explains the theory and has a cut view of the clutch shows the seal on the steering clutch piston. You can also review the steering clutch diagnostics and testing sections for more info and tests you can do.

Yes, it is going to require teardown to repair. Your TM1330 repair manual should cover the procedure. Section 02, starting on page 0250-12. There is an exploded view of the steering clutch on page 0250-19.

PC 2036 Parts Catalog: page showing the steering clutch components. items 9, 10, and 15 provide sealing.

https://partscatalog.deere.com/jdrc/sid ... Id/1361909

[trevinhurt]

Thank you sir!