3400 steering valve spring/plungers?

OldIron · Jun 2, 2012

Hello
My 3400 was pouring fluid out the top of the steering column, and the upper seal looked OK (but replacing anyway), so I continued down, and found the lower seal falling apart, and of course, I think I dropped a spring (Part # 310960) as the part list shows a total of 4 springs and I only have 3 in hand and cannot find the darn fourth!!!
I can order the springs on-line, and will be ording one, BUT, neither the parts manual nor the service manual show specifically where and in what orientation the two types of plungers, springs, balls and reaction plungers are supposed to be installed...
Does ANYONE have a good diagram PLEASE?!?!?!?
Thanks
OldIron

Ultradog MN · Jun 2, 2012

You can relax as there are only 3 springs.

Take a look at the photo below. Notice the extra fitting that the yellow pencil is pointing to. That goes to the right side of the column - that's the starboard side for you landlubbers.
There are 8 plungers, 3 springs and two balls in that block. 6 ordinary plungers and two special plungers with horns on the end.
The two special plungers and the two balls go in to the port by the green pencil. So loading it from the top you would install one special plunger horns up, then two balls then another special plunger horns down. The other 3 holes get an ordinary plunger, then a spring, then another plunger.
If you wish you can load them from the top after you set the valve body back on the column.

OldIron · Jun 3, 2012

UltraDog MN, Awesome explanation and reassurance!!!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!

Today, I put my tractor back together!!!

Russ

b00tleg82 · Jul 19, 2013

I was recently disassembling my steering control valve on my 1969 Ford 3400 to replace the lower oring and fix a fluid leak through the steering wheel with a speedi sleeve and new oil seal. Upon examining the control vavle and plunger i found a "horn" type plunger with 2 of the horns broken. After many hours googling I found what seems to be the horn plungers were replaced by the regular plunger and spring in all the parts manuals. Does anyone know if this is correct and if the regular plunger spring setup will finction the same if replacing the horn and ball plunger? Also i noticed the regular plungers seem to have a beveled edge and square edge does this matter when reassembling? Square edge toward spring or the other way around? Thanks so much in advance!

69-3400 · Jan 2, 2014

Great post Ultradog MN. My steering was locked up and squirting fluid out of the column unless I raised the front off the ground. Your post let me know the valve was incorrectly assembled. A previous owner installed both special plungers in the bottom and I don't believe either were in the correct hole. I was about to post a picture of how it came apart when I found this post.

Many thanks,
Jeff

flyfast · Aug 25, 2017

why cant I see the image that is to be here???

Sean in PA · Aug 26, 2017

(quoted from post at 23:02:30 08/25/17) why cant I see the image that is to be here???

Photoshop recently stopped allowing people to do third party linking to their own pictures unless you pay them $400.00 a year. Most folks decided no to pay.

flyfast · Oct 14, 2017

Help I had my 3400 spilling fluid out breather in lower column. I tore it apart and seen lower seal was blown so I bought all seals and replaced it all. I put it back together and it works ok. Then went to find center so I could put arms back on and when it hit one side and I held it a second I heard a pop and then same thing was going on again fluid coming out breather in lower housing. Took apart and can see nothing wrong but I know seal is junk from the pop and it is what holds fluid in steering block and out of lower steering gears also I had fluid in upper part of Column also but not much. Now some one replaced lower steering connecter and when I tore steering block apart there was only two plungers with prongs and two balls in one hole is it missing a spring to keep balls apart?? it worked ok at first but I had no arms on it to wheels yet also. Can some one help me figure out why it is blowing that lower seal and pushing fluid into lower box and out breather Thanks Dan

3400 steering valve spring/plungers?

OldIron

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Ultradog MN

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OldIron

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b00tleg82

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69-3400

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flyfast

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Sean in PA

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flyfast

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