Comments on: Diagnosing and Preventing Steering Box Failure

By: Service Dept Vic

Service Dept Vic — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 06:55:40 +0000

Yep. I’ve got those parts. Send me a PM and I’ll price the stuff out for you!

By: Waymon

Waymon — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 02:36:50 +0000

Vick, I want to tell I am very greayful for the help you offer to the Kubota tractor owners. You help a lot. I have old L1500 tractor. I bought this for my daddy. Al of his life he been a farmer at 83 years old farming is in his blood. My problem is the steering bax has been frozen and cracked on the bottom. A replacemment would be great but its hard to find these. The previos owner must let it freeze and bursted. The burst is in the bottom where the bearing race sets in. I thought about brazing it up and boring the housing out to fit the race. Do you have the proper numbers or parts numbers for the bearings and race. If you have a better
way please inform me please. Thanks again for the videos. You are a great help.

Waymon

By: scott

scott — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 21:11:21 +0000

Hey Vic,
Is there anywhere to get the parts to completely rebuild my steering box? If I have it apart, I think that I may as well put as many new parts in it as possible. My tractor is a L-1500

By: Vic

Vic — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:05:09 +0000

There is an alignment mark scribed on the end of the sector shaft, and a corresponding line stamped on the pitman arm. Take a close look and make sure they line up with each other. It “times” the pitman arm to the sector shaft rotation and ensures equal turning radius in both directions.

By: thecaptain

thecaptain — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:05:49 +0000

Vic, thanks for the quick response to my question. can you be a little more detailed on the sector shaft score mark is it easily found on the shaft? Also i didn’t explain before that when I begin turning the steering wheel it raises up a half inch out of the steering tube before it will begin to turn the wheels. Thanks again.

By: Vic Byskal

Vic Byskal — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 17:28:16 +0000

Hey Cappy, Mr K is waiting for me to finish that, sorry for the delay! Pull that box apart again, you’ve dropped a few ball bearings during installation, or you’ve crushed the lower box bearing. When assembled there will be zero slack or “play” before the wheels move. Check the pitman arm and make sure it’s lined up to the score mark on the end of the steering sector shaft. Something has been missed or overlooked on your rebuild! Sorry

By: thecaptain

thecaptain — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 16:43:16 +0000

Hey Vic, any chance we’ll see the rebuild video follow up on the steering box for the L series? I’ve just rebuilt the steering box on my L175, new shaft, bearings, etc. however I have a significant amount of play or “free wheel” in the steering wheel before the tractor will begin to turn…. i.e turn the wheel about a half turn then the pitman arm begins to work and you can steer the tractor…. any thoughts about what is wrong? Thanks.

By: b7100hst

b7100hst — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:27:03 +0000

OK, here is a story for you that will make you think! My low hour, mid 80’s B7100HST, had several of the steering failure warning signs that Vic identified but was STILL WORKING AND STEERING. What bothered me was the steering wheel/shaft would rise and fall as I turned the steering wheeel. I kept using the tractor until I could get a few free days to tear the steering apart (about 3 months). I tore my steering box apart yesterday and found alot of water in the box as the seal had failed, but get this, there was about 30-40 BEARINGS IN THE BOTTOM OF THE BOX!!!! In other words, someone had been replacing bearings but not taking out the old bearings or cleaning out the box. They had just replaced the whole shaft before I bought the tractor thinking it would fix the problem. There had to be bearings from at least three prior repairs! These bearings were obviously getting jammed at times in the shaft and in the workings based on the marks on the shaft. I’m luck the steering didn’t fail at a critical time or that my castings didn’t freeze and break. It is also a warning about who does your repair work. I ordered parts through the local Kubota dealer – total was $33, which I thought was reasonable as I am replacing every seal and bearing. This thread saved my castings at minimum, and kept me from experiencing steering failure, Thanks Vic!!!!!

By: TIM PRICE

TIM PRICE — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 19:24:20 +0000

Hi Vic.
I have a B7100HST with the steering completely gone out the local Kubota dealers say they can’t get the parts to repair (bearings, races, and seals). I’ve been able to come up with most of the parts, (bearings, races but no seals) also new upper shaft guide at steering wheel was obtained. I could not find any shims of any size to fit the box for adjustment purposes. The bottom race fits loose in the race holder in the box. How do I correct this and how many little bearings are inside of the worm gear housing, I think I found twenty and it appears there should be more. I tried to rebuild once and it lasted two (2) weeks and went out. the steering worm gear just spins the shaft and steering wheel with no effect on steering of the front tires. Need help !!! Tim

By: barnes chad

barnes chad — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 22:42:46 +0000

i have a l245 dt(80) am i going to have the same problems as everyone above with finding the right parts….im getting worried