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Systems Operation
784C and 785C Off-Highway Truck/Tractors Steering System
Media Number -SENR1492-06 Publication Date -01/03/2005 Date Updated -16/03/2005

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Steering System
SMCS - 4300

Hydraulic Schematic

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Illustration 1 g00297139

(1) Steering accumulators

(2) Steering cylinders

(3) Steering solenoid and relief valve

(4) Steering check valve

(5) Steering filter

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(6) Steering hydraulic tank

(7) Steering piston pump

(8) Steering pump pressure switch

(9) Breaker relief valve

(10) Orifice fitting

(11) Pressure compensator valve

(12) Steering metering pump

(13) Cylinder crossover relief valve

(14) Steering relief valve

(15) Steering solenoid valve

Location of Components

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Illustration 2 g00297271
Top view of the steering oil lines.

(1) Steering accumulators

(2) Steering cylinders

(3) Steering solenoid and relief valve

(4) Steering check valve

(5) Steering filter

(6) Steering hydraulic tank

(7) Steering piston pump

(8) Steering pump pressure switch

(9) Breaker relief valve

(10) Orifice fitting

(11) Pressure compensator valve

(12) Steering metering pump

(13) Cylinder crossover relief valve

(15) Steering solenoid valve

(16) Case drain line

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Illustration 3 g00297273

Side view of steering oil lines.

(1) Steering accumulators

(2) Steering cylinders

(3) Steering solenoid and relief valve

(4) Steering check valve

(5) Steering filter

(6) Steering hydraulic tank

(7) Steering piston pump

(8) Steering pump pressure switch

(9) Breaker relief valve

(10) Orifice fitting

(11) Pressure compensator valve

(12) Steering metering pump

(13) Cylinder crossover relief valve

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(14) Steering relief valve

(16) Case drain line

Operation
The steering system is hydraulic. There is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and
steering cylinders (2) that move the front wheels. The steering system is a closed center system. The
steering system is independent of all other hydraulic systems. Oil for the steering system is stored in
steering hydraulic oil tank (6).

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Illustration 4 g00301281
(7) Steering piston pump

(11) Pressure compensator valve

(17) Pump drive

Steering piston pump (7) is a pressure compensated piston type pump. On the tractor, the pump drive
(17) drives the steering piston pump (7), the transmission gear pump and the hoist and rear brake
cooling gear pump. On the truck, the pump drive (17) drives the steering piston pump (7), the
transmission gear pump and the hoist and rear brake cooling gear pump. The pump drive (17) is on the
right hand frame rail near the rear of the torque converter. The pump drive (17) is driven by a drive
shaft. The drive shaft is connected between the pump drive and the engine. Steering piston pump (7)
operates only when the engine is running. The pressure of the steering piston pump (7) is controlled by a
pressure compensator valve (11). Pressure compensator valve (11) is fastened to steering piston pump
(7) .

Internal leakage from steering piston pump (7) is returned to steering hydraulic tank (6) through case
drain line (16). Steering filter (5) is bolted to steering hydraulic tank (6). Return oil from the steering
system flows through the steering filter and clean oil is returned to steering hydraulic tank (6). Any
debris in the oil is stopped by steering filter (5) .

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If the filter element becomes full of debris, the restriction to flow causes a pressure increase. A pressure
above the setting of the bypass valve causes the bypass valve to open. Oil now bypasses steering filter
(5). The oil goes directly to steering hydraulic tank (6). When the oil bypasses the filter element, debris
in the oil will cause damage to other system components. Proper maintenance must be used to ensure
that the filter element does not stop the flow of clean oil to the hydraulic system.

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Illustration 5 g00301282
(3) Steering solenoid and relief valve

(4) Steering check valve

(14) Steering relief valve

(15) Steering solenoid valve

Steering hydraulic tank (6) supplies oil to steering piston pump (7). Steering piston pump (7) pumps oil
through steering check valve (4) to steering solenoid and relief valve (3). Steering check valve (4)
prevents oil from flowing back through steering piston pump (7) if the engine stops. Blocking the oil in
the lines keeps all of the oil stored in the steering accumulators at the time of engine shutdown. If the
key is not in the OFF position, the oil will be available to steer the moving machine while you try to
stop. Steering check valve (4) is mounted to steering solenoid and relief valve (3) .

Steering solenoid and relief valve (3) acts as a manifold for inlet oil and return oil. Full pressure oil is
supplied to steering accumulators (1) until the pressure setting of pressure compensator valve (11) is
reached. When steering accumulators (1) are charged, the pressure compensator valve (11) will cause
steering piston pump (7) to destroke. The steering piston pump (7) will operate at a volume in order to
maintain the pressure setting of the pressure compensator valve.

When the steering wheel is turned, oil from steering accumulators (1) is used. This causes the pressure
in steering accumulators (1) to drop. This causes steering piston pump (7) to stroke up to full flow in
order to refill the steering accumulators (1). The pressure will increase to the pressure setting of the
pressure compensator valve (11) .

Steering relief valve (14) is mounted in the lower half of the body of steering solenoid and relief valve

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(3). Steering relief valve (14) protects steering piston pump (7) and all other system components if the
steering piston pump (7) fails to destroke after reaching the maximum steering accumulator pressure.

Steering solenoid valve (15) is mounted on the side of the body of steering solenoid and relief valve (3).
When the engine is shut off with the ignition key, the electronic control for the steering accumulator
activates the steering solenoid valve (15). When the steering solenoid valve is activated, the steering
solenoid valve releases pressure oil in steering accumulators (1). This also prevents the machine from
being turned when the machine is not in operation.

Note: The battery disconnect switch and the engine shutdown control do not activate steering solenoid
valve (15) .

Steering metering pump (12) pumps a fixed amount of oil to the steering cylinders (2) in order to turn
the machine. The speed of the turn is determined by the rate of the steering wheel rotation. The steering
linkage is designed in order to use the head end of each cylinder as a mechanical stop.

The cylinder crossover relief valve (13) protects the steering system from sudden pressure increases.
When the cylinder crossover relief valve (13) opens, oil can go between the head and rod ends of the
steering cylinders (2) .

Copyright 1993 - 2005 Caterpillar Inc. Sun Dec 11 20:58:27 UTC+0800 2005
All Rights Reserved.
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